Fixed-time kinetic enthalpimetry: improved sensitivity for enthalpimetric enzyme activity determinations in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems

A fixed-time (integral) method is described for the enthalpimetric determination of enzyme activity. The method involves the determination of residual unreacted substrate after a fixed incubation time with the sample. Results are presented for the determination of cholinesterase in aqueous solution and in 0.1cm³ samples of reference sera using 30-min incubation periods. Results are correlated with a spectrophotometric procedure. A precision of 1.8% relative standard deviation is reported for serum assays. Preliminary data are also presented for the enthalpimetric determination of cholinesterase activity after immobilization onto non-porous glass beads by carbodiimide and glutaraldehyde coupling procedures.