Quantitative Determination Of Aspartate Aminotransferase GOT (AST)

Quantitative determination of aspartate aminotransferase

GOT (AST)

IVD

Store at 2-8ºC

PRINCIPLE OF THE METHOD

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) formerly called glutamate oxaloacetate

(GOT) catalyses the reversible transfer of an amino group from aspartate

to -ketoglutarate forming glutamate and oxalacetate. The oxalacetate

produced is reduced to malate by malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and

NADH:

L-Aspartate + -Ketoglutarate

AST

Glutamate + Oxalacetate

Oxalacetate + NADH + H

+

MDH

Malate + NAD

+

The rate of decrease in concentration of NADH, measured photometrically,

is proportional to the catalytic concentration of AST present in the sample

1

.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The AST is a cellular enzyme, is found in highest concentration in heart

muscle, the cells of the liver, the cells of the skeletal muscle and in smaller

amounts in other weaves.

Although an elevated level of AST in the serum is not specific of the

hepatic disease, is used mainly to diagnostic and to verify the course of

this disease with other enzymes like ALT and ALP.

Also it is used to control the patients after myocardial infarction, in skeletal

muscle disease and other

1,4,5

.

Clinical diagnosis should not be made on a single test result; it should

integrate clinical and other laboratory data.

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