The least-squares method is frequently used to calculate the slope and intercept of the best line through a set of data points. However, least-squares regression slopes and intercepts may be incorrect if the underlying assumptions of the least-squares model are not met. Two factors in particular that may result in incorrect least-squares regression coefficients are: (a) imprecision in the measurement of the independent (x-axis) variable and (b) inclusion of outliers in the data analysis. We compared the methods of Deming, Mandel, and Bartlett in estimating the known slope of a regression line when the independent variable is measured with imprecision, and found the method of Deming to be the most useful. Significant error in the least-squares slope estimation occurs when the ratio of the standard deviation of measurement of a single x value to the standard deviation of the x-data set exceeds 0.2. Errors in the least-squares coefficients attributable to outliers can be avoided by eliminating data points whose vertical distance from the regression line exceed four times the standard error the estimate.
We describe an automated, colorimetric determination of glucose in biological fluids that combines the specificity of glucose oxidase and of a new peroxide indicator reaction. In the presence of peroxidase, 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone oxidatively couples with N,N-dimethylaniline to form a stable, intensely colored, water-soluble indamine dye, the concentration of which is proportional to that of the third reactant, hydrogen peroxide. This reaction, used earlier to determine uric acid [Clin. Chem. 17, 1154 (1971)], is substantially less affected by negative interference of reducing substances than are previously described peroxide indicators. Results from use of AutoAnalyzers I and II and this method were compared with those from a manual spectrophotometric hexokinase/glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase procedure, and showed good correlation for specimens from patients. The automated methods are suitable for measuring glucose in serum, plasma from fluoride-or iodoacetate-preserved blood, urine (without ion-exchange pretreatment), or cerebrospinal fluid. They eliminate the problem of falsely high results caused by medication or reducing metabolites associated with uremia, in methods in which alkaline ferricyanide or copper—neocuproine is used.
We describe a continuous-flow, automated determination of total cholesterol in serum, which is based on enzymatic hydrolysis of cholesterol esters, oxidation of cholesterol by cholesterol oxidase, and colorimetric measurement of liberated perioxide with 4-aminoantipyrine, phenol, and peroxidase. Free cholesterol is determined with the same AutoAnalyzer II manifold and reagents, except that cholesterol esterase is omitted from the reagent. Cholesterol-in-serum materials that have been assayed by an established method are used for calibration. We found this approach to be necessary because primary cholesterol standards in organic solvents are incompatible with the aqueous reagent. Results of the enzymatic total cholesterol method correlated well with those by an AutoAnalyzer II method which involves an extraction with isopropanol and the Liebermann-Burchard color reaction (total cholesterol, g/liter, yenz= 0991xlb +0.05;r=0.996). Results of the enzymatic free cholesterol procedure agreed satisfactorily with one in which free cholesterol is precipitated as the digitonide and subsequently analyzed colorimetrically with the Liebermann-Burchard reaction (free cholesterol, %, yenz = 0.982xdig -0.7;r= 0.956).
An automated colorimetric procedure is described for the determination of serum and urine uric acid with improved specificity. Hydrogen peroxide, formed when uric acid is oxidized by uricase, oxidatively couples with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone and N,N-dimethylaniline, in the presence of peroxidase, to produce a stable, sensitive indamine dye. The method is reproducible, and the results correlate well with those obtained by a manual spectrophotometric uricase procedure. Also, the automated procedure is resistant to many added reducing substances that cause positive interferences in alkaline phosphotungstate methods.
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