Temperatures Used in the Determination of Enzyme Activity in Clinical Biochemistry Laboratories in Britain: Results of a Survey

Abstract

Information on the temperature used in the determination of enzyme activity in clinical biochemistry laboratories in Britain was obtained by circulating a questionnaire to 400 laboratories in Britain. Replies were analysed from 321 laboratories (80%). A large majority of laboratories use 37°C to determine enzyme activity: 99% use this temperature for amylase, 88% for alkaline phosphatase, and 81% for aspartate and alanine amino-transferases. A greater proportion of laboratories with large workloads use 37°C than do those with smaller workloads. The majority of laboratories use equipment with incubation temperatures that are selectable within the laboratory. When there is evidence of advantage in using a particular temperature most laboratories use this temperature. Almost one-quarter of the laboratories replying participate in a local agreement to use 37° to determine enzyme activity. About one-third of laboratories consider it impracticable to change to 30°C, and of those replying to the question on whether they were willing to change to 30°C, 49% indicated that they were not willing to do so.