DETERMINATION OF TRIGLYCERIDES

Disclosed is a technique for accelerating the Hantzsch reaction, for the clinical determination of triglyceride, so as to permit the reaction to be analytically complete within 15 minutes at 37.degree. C. As is known, in this Hantzsch reaction, one mole of aldehyde is reacted in a solution predominantly containing alcohol and water with two moles of a betadicarbonyl compound in the presence of ammonia to yield, as a colored derivative, a lutidine. In the disclosed technique, the solution also contains an organic accelerator compound. This compound is capable of forming a clear solution with the mixture of components of the reaction solution and is further characterized as having an aprotic internal dipole such that said compound has a distinct center which is electron rich and center which is electron deficient.