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Nitrite and nitrate determinations in biological fluids are increasingly being used as markers of nitric oxide production. We have modified a nitrate reductase and Griess reaction method for the measurement of serum nitrate and nitrite in ultrafiltrated samples using a microtitre plate. The recoveries of nitrate and nitrite were 95% (range = 86-113%) and 100% (range = 92-109%), respectively. The intra and inter assay coefficients of variation for nitrate plus nitrite in the concentration range 40-50 microM were 9.1% and 7.8%, and in the concentration range of 2.5-10 microM 23.4% and 25.5%, respectively. At its lower limit the assay is able to detect 125 pmoles of nitrate plus nitrite in 50 microL of sample (2.5 mumol/L). A mean serum nitrate plus nitrite level of 32.8 mumol/L (SD 12.3) was measured in 24 healthy adult volunteers (12 men and 12 women), no age or sex differences were noted.
Giovannoni et al. (1997) studied this question.