Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serum pseudocholinesterase

We developed a reliable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using purified pseudocholinesterase (ChE) as a standard and its monoclonal antibody. The precision, reproducibility, and sensitivity of this assay were quite satisfactory. Serum ChE concentration in 506 normal individuals ranging from 20 to 60 years of age was 3.78 ± 0.32 mg/ l (mean ± 1 S.D.), though age- and sex-related differences were present. Measurements of ChE concentration and ChE enzymatic activity by two different assay kits in 63 serum samples taken in the Clinical Laboratory of the Jichi Medical School correlated closely. Quantitative determination of serum ChE concentration can be clinically useful: it is much easier and requires far less restricting conditions than does determination of ChE enzymatic activity. Also, it can be performed quite easily under far less demanding conditions. Further, the method is easy to standardize, and this standardization may be applied when the assay is used to evaluate ChE enzymatic activity.