Application of a new chemiluminescence method for the determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in healthy and enzyme-deficient individuals.

INTRODUCTION

A chemiluminescence (CL) technique, which determines the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activities in healthy, heterozygous, and completely enzyme-deficient individuals was applied.

METHODS

CL intensities were detected for 4 h at 15-min intervals in each sample with or without addition of G-6-PD substrates into the reaction mixture.

RESULTS

The results revealed an inverse correlation to the reference UV method (Zinkham method; r=-0.80). Furthermore, the CL assay was able to detect G-6-PD activities as low as 0.2 IU/gHb, which was not possible by the UV method.

DISCUSSION: In conclusion, we believe that this method offers a new diagnostic tool for the detection of G-6-PD activities in enzyme-deficient individuals and, because of its increased sensitivity, makes it amenable for determining the effects of different pharmaceutical agents on G-6-PD activity in tissue or cell cultures.