Patent ID: 6521416
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: C07K,G01N

Abstract:
A method for determining the temporal proximity to or distance from the onset of menopause in a perimenopausal female subject comprising the steps of:(a) contacting a urine sample obtained from the subject during the follicular phase of menses with an antibody which specifically binds to hLH&bgr;cf without substantially cross-reacting with hLH, hLH&bgr; or hCG&bgr;cf, under conditions permitting formation of a complex between the antibody and hLH&bgr;cf; (b) measuring the amount of complex formed, so as to thereby determine the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the sample; and (c) comparing the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the subject's sample determined in step (b) with either (i) the amount of hLH&bgr;cf determined for a sample from a subject known to be postmenopausal or (ii) the amount of hLH&bgr;cf determined for a sample from a subject known to be premenopausal, wherein an amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the sample similar to the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the postmenopausal sample or dissimilar to the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the premenopausal sample indicates temporal proximity to the onset of menopause, and an amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the sample similar to the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the premenopausal sample or dissimilar to the amount of hLH&bgr;cf in the postmenopausal sample indicates temporal distance from the onset of menopause in the subject.