Intravenous galactose tolerance test with the use of an enzymatic method for the determination of galactose

Summary A galactose-tolerance test is presented that is a modification of the method of Colcheret al.¹⁶ Galactose is administered by a single rapid intravenous injection or infusion (350 mg./kg. body weight). The galactose values during 60–80 min. after the administration are determined in capillary blood and form an approximately straight line in a semilogarithmic system. The result is expressed as the _1/2 values for galactose.The galactose determinations are made with a galactose oxidase method. The test is simple to perform, and the results are reproducible.The test was carried out on a clinical series, and was found to give valuable quantitative information about liver function and to aid in the distinction between parenchymatous and obstructive jaundice.