Patent ID: 7169575
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. In a method for assaying homocysteine concentration in a biological fluid sample, said method comprising the steps of; i) contacting said biological fluid sample with homocysteine desulphurase (HDS) whereby to generate alpha-ketobutyrate, ii) generating a signal corresponding to said alpha-ketobutyrate, iii) subsequently assessing the thus-generated signal and iv) relating the assessed signal to the homocysteine concentration in said biological fluid sample; wherein the improvement comprises enhancing the signal to noise ratio by contacting said biological fluid with a reducing agent, prior to step i), subsequently contacting with HDS, in step i), and contacting with an agent which binds, oxidises or renders inactive said reducing agent after step i) and before step ii).