Patent ID: 6743590
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: C07K,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for differentiating between a person having substantially normal parathyroid function and having hyperparathyroidism comprising:a) obtaining a sample from a person to be tested; b) determining whole parathyroid hormone level in said sample using an antibody or an antibody fragment that distinguishes whole parathyroid hormone from a parathyroid hormone inhibitory peptide fragment, said antibody or antibody fragment being specific for the parathyroid hormone peptide SER-VAL-SER-GLU-ILE-GLN-LEU-MET (SEQ ID No:4), wherein at least four amino acids in said peptide sequence are part of a reactive portion with said antibody, determining total parathyroid hormone level in said sample and determining parathyroid hormone inhibitory peptide fragment level by subtracting said whole parathyroid hormone level from said total parathyroid hormone level; and c) comparing at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of said whole parathyroid hormone level, parathyroid hormone inhibitory peptide fragment level, and total parathyroid hormone level, thereby determining whetber said person has substantially normal parathyroid function or has hyperparathyroidism.