The technique to be selected for determination of bilirubin in blood by the diazo-method

IN the present communication an attempt is made to decide which is the most practical method for estimating the total bilirubin in serum or plasma. To-day there are several modifications of Van den Bergh's test in use in different laboratories, and these different techniques give results which may vary quite widely, so that the findings reported by one laboratory are not comparable with those from another. Van den Bergh's direct reaction and its particular problems will not be considered now; the estimation of all the bilirubin involving treat- ment of the serum with alcohol, or, in other words, the "indirect quantitative test " alone will be studied.