Simplified Automated Method for Determination of Urinary or Serum Uric Acid, Based on Reduction of Ferric-Phenanthroline Complex

We describe an automated colorimetric method for determination of uric acid in serum or urine by use of an AutoAnalyzer II or SMA 12/60 (Technicon Corp.). The method depends on reduction of a ferric-phenanthroline complex by uric acid under acidic conditions to a ferrous-phenanthroline complex, which absorbs at 505 nm. Advantages of this method over other methods now in use are that color and concentration are linearly related (to 20 mg/100 ml); aqueous reagents are easily prepared, stable, and inexpensive; and interference from ascorbic acid has been eliminated by use of an alkaline copper-containing diluent. The analysis is also free of interference from glucose, creatinine, glutathione, salicylates and hemoglobin. Correlation with results of the Technicon phosphotungstic acid reduction method is excellent (r = .996). Correlation with results of an automated uricase method is satisfactory (r = .979). Recovery of uric acid was 101% over a wide concentration range.