Preventing ascorbate interference in ion-chromatographic determinations of urinary oxalate: four methods compared

In an attempt to decrease ascorbate interference on the ion-chromatographic determination of urinary oxalate, we compared the effectiveness of four different methods for ascorbate elimination by analyzing a representative urine pool supplemented with successive ascorbate additions. Two of the methods--treatment with ferric ions or boric acid--have been described elsewhere; treatments with nitrites or ascorbate oxidase (EC 1.10.3.3) are investigated here as possible alternatives. Consideration of the main features, advantages, and drawbacks of the four procedures leads us to conclude that boric acid dilution is a good routine method and that pre-incubation with ascorbate oxidase reliably prevents ascorbate interference in assays of urinary oxalate.