Abstract: The invention provides a reagent for enzymatic determination of serum bicarbonate levels in a patient wherein the degree of oxidation of a coenzyme is measured and said reagent is stabilized against oxidation by a coenzyme reduction system comprising an enzyme and substrate pair selected to enable continuous regeneration of said coenzyme throughout storage of said reagent. The invention also provides an improvement in an enzymatic method of determination of the concentration of serum bicarbonate in a sample body fluid wherein the degree of oxidation of a coenzyme is measured, the improvement comprising stabilizing a reagent which comprises the coenzyme against oxidation by a coenzyme reduction system comprising an enzyme and substrate pair selected so as to enable continuous regeneration of the coenzyme throughout storage of the reagent.