Comparison of the analytical characteristics and clinical usefulness in tumour monitoring of fifteen hCG(-beta) immunoassay kits.
Fifteen immunoassay kits for serum hCG(-beta) measurements have been compared for their analytical characteristics and clinical usefulness in tumour monitoring. Three out of 13 radioimmunoassays and two sandwich hCG immunoassays represent the 'one-component' techniques for intact hCG detection since they are based on antiserum raised against intact hCG. Within this group, method-comparison slopes ranged between 0 X 149 and 0 X 374. The remaining 10 radioimmunoassays all apply antiserum against hCG-beta and are designated 'two (or more)-component' assays since they detect both intact hCG and the free beta-subunit ('total hCG'). For this reason these assays are of potential value for tumour monitoring. Additional criteria for this are: (1) the expression of assay results in terms of 1st IRP-hCG instead of the unstructured use of the 2nd IS or the 1st IRP-hCG-beta; (2) documentation of cross-reactivities especially for the free beta-subunits of hCG and hLH which are almost completely lacking; (3) establishment of the minimum detectable dose in the presence of normo-to-hypergonadotrophic hLH levels in serum (the 'clinical sensitivity') to allow the follow-up of tumour regression especially in the low-dose region. Method-comparison analysis for these assays revealed regression slopes between 0 X 001 and 0 X 873.
Thomas
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Segers
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Houx
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D000918:Antibody Specificity; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D009626:Terminology as Topic
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments