Potentiometric determination of dialysate urea nitrogen

An enzymatically modified ammonium ion-selective electrode has been applied for the determination of urea in spent dialysate. The biosensor has been used in a simple flow-injection analysis (FIA) system. The system enables one to perform over 25 dialysate urea nitrogen (DUN) determinations per hour. The interferences from other components of posthemodialysis fluid were eliminated by simultaneous measurements with non-modified enzymatically ion-selective electrode. It is possible to use both the sensors in a simplified differential potentiometric system. The results of DUN determination using the biosensor/FIA system and a conventional method of urea determination were comparable. The presented analytical system can potentially find wider biomedical application in the monitoring of hemodialysis progress.