Comparison of 2 enzyme immunoassays and a radioimmunoassay for measurement of progesterone concentrations in bovine plasma, skim milk, and whole milk.
The objective of this study was to compare 2 enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) with a radioimmunoassay (RIA) as to sensitivity and accuracy in the measurement of the progesterone (P4) concentration in bovine plasma, skim milk, and whole milk. The 72 samples from 24 lactating dairy cows expected to have either a high P4 concentration (cows in diestrus or pregnant) or a low P4 concentration (cows in estrus or anestrus) were analyzed by RIA, solid-phase EIA (SPEIA), which included a solvent extraction step, or direct EIA (DEIA) without solvent extraction. The overall mean concentrations of P4 did not differ (P < 0.4) among the assays. However, for the cows that were in diestrus or pregnant, the mean P4 concentrations (and standard error) were higher (P < 0.03), regardless of sample type, with RIA than with SPEIA, at 7.3 (0.7) and 6.1 (0.6) ng/mL, respectively. When only the high-P4 samples analyzed by RIA were compared, the mean P4 concentration was higher (P < 0.001) in whole milk than in skim milk, at 9.8 (1.0) and 4.1 (0.7) ng/mL, respectively. Although the mean P4 concentrations in the low-P4 samples did not differ (P < 0.80) among assays, the proportions of cows with a P4 concentration > or = 1 ng/mL were 3%, 14%, and 44% for RIA, SPEIA, and DEIA, respectively (P < 0.01; DEIA > SPEIA > RIA).
Colazo
Marcos G
MG
Alberta Agriculture and Food, Suite 204, 7000-113th Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 5T6.
Ambrose
Divakar J
DJ
Kastelic
John P
JP
Small
Julie A
JA
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004041:Dietary Fats; D011374:Progesterone