What condition will interfere with the Evelyn Malloy method for bilirubin measurement?

The Evelyn Malloy method for bilirubin measurement assesses bilirubin levels in serum, utilizing a specific reaction with certain reagents to form a colored complex that can be quantified spectrophotometrically. One significant factor that can interfere with this method is hemolysis. Hemolysis releases free hemoglobin into the serum, which can absorb light at the same wavelengths used for measuring bilirubin. The presence of free hemoglobin leads to inaccurate results, as it can produce a false increase in the measured bilirubin concentration.

In contrast, conditions like dehydration, hypoxia, and hyperlipidemia do not significantly interfere with this particular method. Dehydration may concentrate blood components but does not affect the bilirubin measurement directly. Hypoxia can potentially lead to other physiological changes; however, it does not directly alter the bilirubin measurement process. Hyperlipidemia can affect the clarity of the serum sample, but it is not known to significantly interfere with the reaction specific to bilirubin measurement in the Evelyn Malloy method. Thus, hemolysis stands out as a primary and problematic interference in this context.