Spectrophotometric study of bilirubin and hemoglobin interactions in several hydrogen peroxide generating procedures

The interference effects of bilirubin and hemoglobin have been described for the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide oxidation of a hydrogen donor and the catalase-hydrogen peroxide oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. A competition between bilirubin and the intended hydrogen donor is shown for the substitute analyte, hydrogen peroxide, with a resultant diminution of color due to the loss of intended reaction. No inhibition of peroxidase action appears to take place; its action when complexed with hydrogen peroxide is directed toward the competing hydrogen donor, bilirubin. The final color measured appeared to be partially compensatory, that is the sum of intended color plus the color of residual bilirubin. The subtraction of a serum blank representing a static system will result in a lowered value and a larger error. Hemoglobin, with its strong Soret band can, if its concentration is excessive, cause a major interference in reactions such as the Hantzsch reaction which result in overlapping bands at the reaction wavelength. Samples which are both hemolyzed and jaundiced would present as formidable blanking problems. Further studies on bilirubin and its glucuronide and their individual effect on the peroxidase-peroxide reaction are presently in progress.