Nephelometric determination of carbohydrate deficient transferrin.
We describe a technique for measuring carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum. Serum transferrin fractions are separated by anion-exchange chromatography on microcolumns. Sialic acid-deficient transferrin fractions are collected in the eluate, and transferrin is then quantified by a rate-nephelometric technique. Imprecision (CV) was 4-5% within-run and 7-9% between runs (n = 15). Comparison with an isoelectric focusing-immunofixation method for transferrin index (x) yielded y = 761x + 7, Sy/x = 39 mg/L. Assay of sera from 90 abstainers or moderate consumers of alcohol showed that 81 (90%) had CDT concentrations between 30 and 70 mg/L. Among 74 alcoholics admitted to an alcohol treatment center, 54 (73%) had CDT > 70 mg/L, i.e., the diagnostic sensitivity was 73% at a specificity of 90% (area under receiver-operator characteristic curve = 0.891).
Schellenberg
F
F
Laboratory of Biochemistry, CHU Trousseau, Tours, France.
Martin
M
M
Cacès
E
E
Bénard
J Y
JY
Weill
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D006801:Humans; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin