Abstract
Official methods for the measurement of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in dairy products use either phenyl phosphate or phenolphthaleln monophosphate as substrate. Quantitation of results requires butanol extraction of the Indophenol (Scharer) or 3-h dialysis of the liberated phenolphthaleln (Rutgers). The Advanced Fluorophos® assay Is based on a self-indicating substrate which, when acted upon by ALP, loses a phosphate radical and becomes a highly fluorescent compound. The rate of fluorophore formation Is monitored for 3 mln In a fluorometer and the enzyme activity In mU/L Is calculated. Eight laboratories participated in a collaborative study to evaluate the Fluorophos® assay for determining ALP activity In whole milk, skim milk, chocolate milk, and cream (half and half). The comparative method was the AOAC quantitative phenyl phosphate method, 16.121-16.122 (14th Ed.). Mixed herd raw milk was added to pasteurized samples at 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% (v/v). Method performance at 0.1% (v/v) added raw milk as measured by repeatability and reproducibility standard deviations (sr and sR) and relative standard deviations (RSDr and RSDR), respectively, were: whole milk, sr = 21.7%, sR = 34.6%, RSDr = 4.4%, RSDR = 7.0%; skim milk, sr = 19.2%, sR = 31.4%, RSDr = 3.8%, RSDR = 6.2%; chocolate milk, sr = 27.6%, sR = 45.8%, RSDr = 5.3%, RSDR = 8.8%. The method has been adopted official first action by AOAC for determination of alkaline phosphatase in whole milk, skim milk, and chocolate milk.