Uncertainty analysis of the microtiter plate method for determining trypsin inhibitor activity

Protease inhibitor activity is frequently measured in legume seeds as protease inhibitors are thought to have anti-nutritional as well as anti-carcinogenic properties. Trypsin inhibitor activity ( TIA ) can be measured using different methods. The microtiter plate method is very convenient and routinely used; therefore, in this study, we analyzed the measurement uncertainty of the microtiter plate method to understand what affects the measurement results, as well as to compare TIA values obtained by similar and different methods. For uncertainty analysis of TIA measurement, we used the soybean variety ‘Vojvodjanka,’ which is known to have TIA greater than 80 trypsin units inhibited (TUI) per mg of seed. We followed the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) for our uncertainty analysis of the microtiter plate method for TIA testing, which we present in the form of an uncertainty budget. Absorbance measurement and preparation of sample reaction mixture took the largest percent (71 %) of overall uncertainty of TIA value. The TIA of soybean variety ‘Vojvodjanka’ was (94.1 ± 8.4) TUI/mg, and this result is consistent with those obtained by other authors. The microtiter plate method is a reliable method for TIA measurement, making seed quality testing more efficient.