An automated method for the determination of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase in serum or plasma using p-nitrophenol (pNP) N-acetyl-β-d-glucosamine as substrate and a Pye Unicam AURA system is described. Normal samples had activities of 853 ± 146 (SD) nmol pNP liberated/ml/h, with intra-assay coefficient of variation 1·2% and inter-assay coefficient of variation 1·6%. Inhibition of enzyme activity by heparin in plasma samples can be reversed by the addition of calcium chloride to the buffer.
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