Merck, MAK547-1KT, High Sensitivity Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (Ketone Body) Assay Kit

General description
Ketone bodies are produced by the liver and used peripherally as an energy source when blood glucose levels drop. The two main ketone bodies are beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) and acetoacetate, while acetone is the third abundant ketone body. Normally these two predominant ketone bodies are present in small amounts in the blood during fasting and prolonged exercise. In patients who have diabetes, alcohol or salicylate poisoning, hormone deficiency, childhood hypoglycemia and other acute disease states, large quantities of ketone bodies are found in the blood. The over-production and accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood (ketosis) can lead to pathological metabolic acidosis (ketoacidosis). Blood ketone testing methods that quantify β-HB, the predominant ketone body in the blood (approximately 75%) have been used for diagnosing and monitoring treatment of ketoacidosis.

The Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Assay Kit offers a sensitive fluorescent assay for measuring Beta-HB levels in biological samples. This assay is based on an enzyme coupled reaction of β-HB, in which the product NADH can be specifically monitored by a fluorescent NADH sensor. The detection limit of this assay kit is 1.4 µM β-HB in a 100 µL reaction volume.