Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method which eliminates centrifugation and decantation steps, to be performed in an automatic manner for carrying out specific binding assay tests, wherein liquid and solid phases are present. 
     According to the invention, use is made of a specially designed device, consisting of a mixing reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer separator having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator. A rack holding a number of said mixing reservoirs containing the incubated reagents and analytes, capped with the mixer separators, is placed into a press-device designed to perform at a controlled rate a downward movement. The mixer separators are pushed downwards into the mixing reservoirs at a chosen rate for a preselected distance to complete the mass transport and separation operations. The separation devices are removed and either one of the separated phases can be measured in the desired analytical instrument for a quantitative or qualitative determination. 
     The results obtained according to the present invention compare very favorably with those determined by other methods requiring centrifugation and/or decantation in the assay protocol.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved method for carrying out specific binding assay tests. More particularly the invention relates to an improved method to be performed in an automatic manner for carrying out specific binding assay tests wherein liquid and solid phases are present. 
     As known, specific binding assays are based on the principle of monitoring specific binding reactions, in which the extent of binding is a function of the amount of unknown ligand present, by means of a labelled component. Among the known methods the following specific binding assay techniques can be mentioned: Radioimmunoassay (RIA), metalloimmunoassay (MIA), free radical assay technique (FRAT), hemaglutination inhibition (HI), enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT), fluorescence immunoassay (FIA) and luminescence immunoassay (LIA). In some of these techniques (RIA, MIA, FIA, LIA) the mixture comprising the unlabelled ligand, labelled ligand and antibody is allowed to reach an equilibrium and the antibody-bound ligand is separated from the free ligand. In the radioimmunoassay, the ligand or the antibody is labelled with a radioactive isotope, whereas in the metalloimmunoassay the ligand is labelled with a metal-containing reagent which contains also a suitable functional group by means of which one can attach the metal reagent to the hapten desired to be assayed. A full description of the latter is given in our previous U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,952. In FIA the label is a fluorescent compound and in LIA the label is chemiluminescent or bioluminescent agent. 
     The operation of separating the free fraction from the bound one, is of great importance and its accuracy determines the sensitivity and precision of the entire specific binding assay technique. In selecting and assessing a separation operation, it is useful to consider the criteria that should be fulfilled in order to obtain the desired result. The following major requirements of an ideal separation can be mentioned: 
     (i) It should completely separate bound and free fractions, with a wide margin for error in the conditions used for separation; 
     (ii) It should not interfere with the primary antigen-antibody binding reaction; 
     (iii) It should be simple, easy and rapid to use; 
     (iv) It should be inexpensive and use reagents and equipment that are readily available; 
     (v) It should not be affected by plasma or serum; 
     (vi) All manipulations should be performed in a single tube; 
     (vii) It should be suitable for automation; 
     (viii) It should be applicable to a wide range of antigens; 
     (ix) The manipulative steps in radioimmunoassays should be designed so that they ensure maximum safety from radiation hazards resulting from handling the radioactive reaction system. 
     A critical review of the variety of methods available and the extent to which each method approaches all or any of the ideal requirements mentioned above is beyond the scope of this specification. The most widely used techniques mentioned by the prior art are adsorption methods (charcoal, silicates), fractional precipitation methods (ammonium sulphate, ethanol, dioxan, polyethylene glycol), double antibody methods and solid phase methods (immunoadsorbants), all of which end up with a system of suspended particles in a liquid medium. The selection of any particular technique is determined by consideration of many interrelated factors such as solubility of compound, characteristics of antiserum, fraction to be counted, degree of non-specific binding, type of radioisotope. However one feature which is common to all the above methods is the need for a centrifugation step to effect aggregation of the suspended solid particles followed by a decantation (or suction) step to physically separate the solid and liquid phases. 
     In a previous patent application (Ser. No. 124,691 assigned to Technion Research &amp; Development Foundation Ltd., it has been disclosed a method to be used in specific binding assay, wherein the separation of the bound fraction from the free fraction is carried out by solvent extraction technique, using organic solvents as extractants. In another prior patent application (Ser. No. 212,806 in the names of M. Cais, M. Shimoni and Technion Research &amp; Development Foundation Ltd. a newly designed device designated as &#34;LIDEX&#34; for carrying out said technique of solvent extraction has been described. According to said invention, the &#34;LIDEX&#34; device consists of a mixing-reservoir (A) into which is fitted snugly a mixer-separator (B), having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator. The two substantially immiscible liquid solutions are introduced into the mixing reservoir, the phases are thoroughly mixed by moving the mixer-separator (B) in and out the mixing-reservoir (A). After the spontaneous separation into an upper and lower phase, the upper phase is removed by pushing in the mixer-separator, said upper phase being accumulated in a collecting container (E). 
     In another prior patent application (Ser. No. 270,411) in the names as in the previous one, mass transport separations for various purposes including specific binding assays, to be carried out through selective barriers, have been disclosed. The invention discloses a new &#34;Lidex&#34; device similar to that described in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 212,806 a barrier being located in the mixer-separator. The resistance raised to the flow of the liquid phase through the membrane into the mixer-separator will generally cause a penetration of the fluid around the sealing element located on the mixer-separator, during the downward gliding of the mixer-separator, which of course will completely interfere the assay. In order to remedy said difficiency, the device is provided with means for accumulating of gas pocket such as one or more horizontal, vertical or spiral grooves on the mixer separator in which the air located therein, will decrease the pressure exerted on the barrier so that said penetration of the fluid around the sealing element is avoided. The invention was found to give excellent results in various systems and for different membranes and types of solvents and/or precipitates. 
     One of the main requirements encountered in immunoassay, is the reproducibility of the results with a minimal deviation between two duplicates, which implies a complete standardization of the procedure with minimal handling and manual working without depending on extraneous factors. An example of such an extraneous factor is the extent of mixing of the phases in the assay. Another extraneous factor is the rate of separating the desired phase which has to be subsequently analysed. 
     In the Lidex device without a barrier, used in immunoassay, the test requires a vigorous and thorough agitation to enable a complete mass transfer and an accurate separation between the two liquid phases. As will be realized, the agitation obtained by manual moving the mixer-separator (B) in and out the mixing-reservoir (A), can not be interpreted quantitatively, being actually of a subjective character according to the technician performing the immunoassay. The problem is even more complicated in the case of Lidex device with a membrane, when any different system may necessitate a specific membrane and/or solvent and accordingly will require diverse extent of mixing and/or different rate of separation. This of course will be very difficult or even impossible by a manual handling, particularly for immunoassay, when high accuracy with the closest possible reproducible results are required. Even a technician versed in the art of immunoassay, could hardly assure that a complete mass transfer was accomplished after a certain agitation period. On the other hand, a prolonged agitation might interfere with easy phase separation, when two liquids are involved, or causes damage to the membrane, when precipitates are present. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for carrying out the immunoassay technique. It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method for carrying out the immunoassay technique which eliminates both the centrifugation and decantation manipulations. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method for carrying out the immunoassay technique, which eliminates the subjective determination on the extent of agitation and improves the phase separation. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method for carrying out the immunoassay technique which avoids the laborious manual method for thorough mixing required for an efficient mass transfer. Thus, the invention consists of an improved method for carrying out the immunoassay technique in a special designed device consisting of a mixing reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer-separator having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator, which consists in the combination of the following steps: 
     (a) arranging the mixing reservoirs in a rack specially designed to hold a number of said mixing reservoirs with the mixer-separators; 
     (b) introducing the reagents and analytes into said mixing-reservoirs; 
     (c) capping said mixing reservoirs with said mixer-separators; 
     (d) allowing the reagents and analytes to incubate for a required period of time in above mixing reservoirs capped with the mixer-separators; 
     (e) placing the rack carrying the above separator devices with the incubated reagents and analytes into a press-device specially designed to perform at a controlled rate a downward movement whereby the mixer separators are pushed downwards into the mixing reservoirs at a chosen rate and for a preselected distance to complete the desired mass-transport and separation operation; 
     (f) operating the downward movement of said press-device at the preselected rate and distance; 
     (g) removing the rack upon the disengagement of the press-device; and 
     (h) placing the separator devices into the desired analytical instrument for a quantitative or qualitative measurement of either one, or both, of the separated phases as required. 
     The method is very simple to carry out being characterized by the absence of any centrifugation and decantation steps, the whole operation taking place in a single tube-device. Moreover the results obtained by the method according to the present invention compares very favourably with known methods as described in the prior art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings 
     FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic perspective views of the press-device used according to the present invention, in its upper and lowered positions; 
     FIGS. 2a and 2b are cross-sectional views of the separators used according to the invention, both prior to and after the separation step is carried out; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the holding tray used in the invention; and 
     FIGS. 4-7 are standard curves for radio immunoassay of the listed species. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One of the elements which enables the performance of the method according to the present invention is the press-device utilized in step (e), referred to in the present specification as pressomat. Actually, the manual operation in steps (e), (f) and (g) is very simple and can be easily carried out by a technician in a laboratory where a relatively small number of tubes per assay are involved. However, since each tube has to be handled individually, this operation can be time-consuming in a routine laboratory performing a large number of analyses. Also a standardization of the procedure would be most desirable in order to ensure a complete non-dependency from extraneous factors. Various prototypes of the Pressomat based on either a pneumatic mechanism or an electrical motor have been found equally satisfactory. FIG. 1a shows the Pressomat at the start of the separation, with two test-tube racks, in place, each holding 20 Lidex devices. FIG. 1b shows the same instrument at the end of the operation, when the separators B in all 40 tubes have been pushed down by the moving platform to the required terminal position and the stoppers S in all separators have hermetically closed all the collecting containers E. The latter step takes place only in the final stage of the downward movement of the pressing platform, in order to allow escape of the displaced air in the Lidex separator. Upon completion of this operation (timed in our experiments for a total of less than 3 minutes) the pressing platform automatically reverses direction of movement and returns up to the starting position of the instrument. The test-tubes racks can be removed from the Pressomat to be taken to the counter as soon as the upward movement (indicated on the LED display) commences. 
     The pressomat (FIG. 1) is built in the form of a closed press in which the movement of the platform (pressing plate a) is produced by a motor linked to a travelling plate which presses on the Lidex separators in the racks (b) by direct contact. The body of the pressomat bears the stretching strains produced as a result of the pressure being exerted during operation. The motor can be pneumatic, hydraulic, a pneumatic-hydraulic combination, or electric and can be linked either directly, or through a transmission system to the travelling plate. The motor is provided with a movement control mechanism (not shown in the Figure) which allows for adjustment of the speed of descent or ascent of the travelling plate according to the requirement of the operation. The operation of the pressomat is very simple: Upon pressing the start button, the travelling plate begins its downward movement and starts pressing on the Lidex separators at a predetermined rate of descent and preselected pressure. When the platform (a) reaches its predetermined lowest point (FIG. 1b) of descent it initiates the operation of a delay mechanism which keeps the platform in that position for a required and predetermined time period in order to complete the equal closure of all the Lidex separators in the test tubes racks (b) previously introduced in the pressomat. Upon completion of this delay time, the pressing plate (a) disengages from the Lidex separators and begins its movement in the upper direction at a desired speed and returns to the starting position (FIG. 1a). At this stage the pressomat is ready for the next operation. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematical representation of the Lidex PS separator particular useful for immunoassay at the start (2a) and the end (2b) of the separation operation. The solid particles (P) initially suspended in the liquid phase (L) are fully separated and retained at the bottom of the mixing-reservoir A. The additional feature of the system shown in FIG. 2C is the plastic rod R placed in the axial channel C of the separator B. The purpose of this rod is to displace its volume equivalent of the liquid phase up into the collecting container E. The dimensions of the rod are such that there should be no interference with the free flow of the liquid phase in its passage through channel C, whilst at the same time only an insignificant amount of liquid will remain in the channel C at the end of the separation. As a result, the radioactivity partitioned between the solid and liquid phases can be physically separated practically in toto. This, together with the hermetical sealing by the stopper S provides an important added flexibility to the assay protocol. With gamma-emitting tracers it is possible to count at choice both a solid phase and/or the liquid phase simply by placing the separator in the well of the counter in the normal or upsidedown position respectively. 
     FIG. 3 shows an illustration of the rack with the devices, designed to allow for a maximum visualization of the mixing reservoirs A during the manual pipettation steps of the assay, and to fit properly in the Pressomat instrument. 
     The assay protocol using the Lidex PS separator methodology as described in the specification consists of the following: 
     (i) A series of mixing reservoirs A, in duplicates, were placed in the test-tube racks and assay reagents, standards and clinical samples were added as per kit instructions; 
     (ii) The mixing reservoirs were allowed to stand for the prescribed primary incubation time; 
     (iii) The precipitating (or adsorbing) reagent for the assay was added, ensuring that total reaction volume was 1.5-2.0 ml; 
     (iv) The separators B, fitted with the O-ring, membrane M, disc D, rod R and slightly capped with stopper S, were introduced into the tubes A, as shown in FIG. 2(a) and allowed to stand for second incubation (if the latter was not required by the assay, one proceeded directly to next step); 
     (v) Two test-tube racks (FIG. 3) holding the Lidex separators were placed into the Pressomat and instrument operation was started; 
     (vi) Upon completion of the operation (3 minutes) mixing reservoirs racks were removed from the Pressomat and the Lidex separators were transferred to the counter. 
     The problem encountered by diagnostic laboratories carrying out competitive protein binding analyses is many-faceted. Thus, they must cope with a large throughput of samples sent from several sources; interpret the significance of results for the less experienced clinician; provide a wide range of determinations; return results quickly; and, above all, ensure that each assay is accurate. This must be done despite the economic difficulties encountered with a technique that is labour intensive, complex and expensive compared with some other forms of assay employed in clinical biochemistry. The increasing availability of RIA reagents in commercial kits may alleviate some of these problems, provided the analyst can rely on the quality of the reagents and the accuracy of the assay protocol. Given reagents of high quality, the separation of bound and free becomes, in our opinion, the most important step in the assay procedure. The efficacy of the new methodology according to the present invention, based on the Lidex PS separating device and the automatization features imparted by the Pressomat instrument (FIG. 1) have been tested with some of the most widely used separating reagents systems in commercially available kits. 
     The commercial  125  I-RIA kits, selected so as to provide a variety of commonly used separating reagents, all requiring centrifugation and decantation in the kit protocol, were grouped into four categories, according to the separating reagent: (a) double-antibody (DAB) (Prolaction and FSH kits); (b) double antibody/polyethylene glycol (DAB/PEG) (ferritin, estriol, cortisol, testosterone, progesterone, β-hCG, insuline and hPL kits); (c) solid phase (insolubilized T 4  -antibody); (d) activated charcoal (digoxin kit). 
     All these provide evidence for the feasibility and potential of the no-centrifugation Lidex separation methodology. It is important to emphasize that all the results presented herein were obtained without any prior work to optimize the adaption of the commercial kit reagents for use with the Lidex PS separator device. In cases where experiments were performed with high quality reagents and carried out optimization of the Lidex assay protocol (incubation time, reaction volumes, precipitating reagent), the results of the assay with Lidex PS methodology compared very favourably with those obtained from the commercial kit assay protocol. 
     Preliminary results indicate that with suitable cut-off membranes it might be feasible to use the Lidex separator device immediately subsequent to the primary incubation step, without requiring the addition of a precipitating or adsorbing reagent. 
     In the preamble of the specification there are enumerated the main requirements of an ideal separation technique, as formulated by the prior art. On the basis of the results obtained, the methodology according to the present invention will possess the following advantages; 
     (i) completely, or very nearly so, separates bound and free fractions with a wide margin for error in the conditions used for separation; 
     (ii) it does not interfere with the primary antigen-antibody binding reaction; 
     (iii) it is simple, easy and rapid to use; 
     (iv) it is inexpensive and uses reagents and equipment that are (or can become) readily available; 
     (v) it is not affected by plasma or serum; 
     (vi) all manipulations are performed in a single tube-separator device; 
     (vii) it is highly suitable for automation; 
     (viii) it is applicable to a wide range of antigens; 
     (ix) the methodology and design of the separator device practically eliminate potential contact with the radioactive reaction mixture thus ensuring maximum safety from radiation hazards. 
     While the invention has been described with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications, and this patent is intended to cover any variation, uses or adaptations of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention. In order to further illustrate the nature of this invention and the manner of practising it, the following Examples are presented for clearness of understanding only and no limitation should be understood therefrom. 
     EXAMPLES 
     The methodology according to the present invention was used in conjunction with the following separating reagents: 
     (a) double-antibody; 
     (b) double-anitbody/PEG; 
     (c) solid phase assay, and 
     (d) activated charcoal. 
     In each case, at least two experiments were carried out in parallel: one experiment was performed exactly according to the kit instructions, including centrifugation and decantation steps; in the other experiment the kit instructions were used with regard to addition of reagents, standards, clinical samples and incubation times, except that Lidex PS separators, test-tubes and the Pressomat instrument were used for separation of bound and free. In addition, total reaction volumes were adjusted as necessary: 
     (a) the standard curves obtained for  125  I-FSH and 125 I  Prolaction (HPRL) assays are shown in FIGS. 4b and 4a respectively. The clinical sera values detained in the two assays are compared in Tables 1 (FSH) and 2 (HPRL). Double antibody (goat antirabbit I g  G) was the precipitating reagent. 
     (b) Double-antibody/PEG (20%) was used as precipitating reagent for the 125 I  ferritin assay which produced the standard curves shown in FIG. 4c and clinical sera values collected in Table 3. The use of the precipitating system required two pipettations and an additional incubation of 15 minutes (after addition of double antibody). It was found that a single pipettation of a premixed double anti-body/PEG (8%) reagent produced immediate precipitation at room temperature and no secondary incubation was necessary. The efficacy of this reagent in conjunction with Lidex separators methodology is demonstrated in a similar manner by the standard curves obtained for  125  I estriol (FIG. 6a), cortisol (FIG. 6b),  125  I-testosterone (FIG. 6c),  125  I-progesterone (FIG. 6d),  125  I-βHCG (FIG. 5c),  125  I-insuline (FIG. 5d),  125  I-hPL (FIG. 5a), hFSH (FIG. 5b), Gastrin (FIG. 7a), hLH (FIG. 7b), P.A.P. (FIG. 7c) and alpha FETO protein (FIG. 7d). 
     (c) The Lidex separator methodology is eminently suitable for use with solid phase immunoassays. An example is shown for a  125  I-thyroxine solid phase assay (immobilized antibody). The standard curves are shown in FIG. 4a. Even though the two curves (kit method and Lidex method) are not as nearly superimposable as in the previous examples, the clinical sera values as calculated from their respective curves are nearly identical (Table 4). 
     (d) The use of activated charcoal as adsorbing reagent in conjunction with Lidex separation methodology was demonstrated with a  125  I digoxin kit. In this example three parallel experiments were carried out in which the results obtained by following exactly the kit instructions (with 20 minutes centrifugation and decantation) were compared with those resulting from an assay using a solvent extraction method with Lidex LS separators and one using the new lidex PS separators, with selective barrier. In the latter experiment, the bound fraction transported with the liquid phase into the collecting container E of the separators was counted by placing upside-down the capped Lidex PS separators into the well of the counter. The standard curves for the three experiments are shown in FIG. 16. Digoxin concentrations in clinical sera samples were determined in all three assays in a blind experiment for comparison with results obtained for the same sera in another laboratory (Sheba Government Hospital) with another commercial kit (Diagnostic Products). The data are collected in Table 5. 
     Similar experiments for comparison data with known kits were performed with various clinical sera and are presented in the Tables 1 to 14. 
     Table 1. FSH. 
     Table 2. HPRL (prolactin). 
     Table 3. Ferritin. 
     Table 4. Thyroxine. 
     Table 5. Digoxin. 
     Table 6. Estradiol. 
     Table 7. Pregstat. 
     Table 8. hPL. 
     Table 9. hLH. 
     Table 10. Total urinary estrogen. 
     Table 11. T 3 . 
     Table 12. hTg-Ab. 
     Table 13. TSH. 
     Table 14. FSH (Biodata kit). 
     In a similar manner comparison tests were carried out with: 
     Enzyme immunoassay HPL nosticon eliza system, and 
     solid phase GENTAMISIN fluorescence immunoassay. 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________Comparison of FSH clinical sera values (mIU/ml) obtainedwith kit protocol (centrifugation) and Lidex PS methodology.       HYPOLAB KITSERUM CODE  PROTOCOL     LIDEX PROTOCOL______________________________________M 9         15.67        16.03L +         3.75         3.47H           59.48        57.59H (1:2)     59.68        53.45♀menop.       47.19        37.15♀menop. 1:2       53.10        37.04♀menop. 1:4       50.04        44.04♀    6.10         7.01♀    0.61         0.62♂1     3.07         3.32♂7     4.19         5.19LHRH Stm 0&#39; 8.11         9.10LHRH Stm 30&#39;       11.69        10.78LHRH Stm 60&#39;       14.98        14.35Ortho III   5.69         4.31Ortho IV    4.21         3.84Ortho 10T10 2A       9.26         11.87Ortho 10T10 2B       4.45         4.62Ortho 10T10 2C       3.64         2.77______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________Comparison of HPRL clinical sera values (ng/ml) obtainedwith kit protocol (centrifugation) and Lidex PS methodology.       HYPOLAB KITSERUM CODE  PROTOCOL     LIDEX PROTOCOL______________________________________M 9         11.68        13.96M 7         10.00        9.67L           4.07         5.08H           76.42        100.77H (1:2)     75.64        79.80♂      2.40         2.65♂      5.28         6.18♀    4.02         4.43♀    9.94         10.73menop. ♀       7.31         7.71menop. ♀       4.70         6.78Ortho-Ligand10T10 2A    1.89         1.9010T10 2B    1.58         1.5310T10 2C    1.84         2.76______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 3______________________________________Comparison of ferritin clinical sera values (ng/nl)obtained with kit protocol (centrifugation) and withlidex PS methodology.                        LIDEXSERUM NO. HYPOLAB KIT PROTOCOL                        PROTOCOL______________________________________1         &lt;20                &lt;202         &lt;20                &lt;203         71.4               70.34         32.1               36.35         135.7              1316         56.7               65.47         &lt;20                &lt;208         &lt;20                &lt;20______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________Comparison of thyroxine clinical sera values (μg %)obtained with kit protocol (centrifugation) and withLidex PS methodology.                        LIDEXSERUM     HYPOLAB KIT PROTOCOL                        PROTOCOL______________________________________M 9       6.76               6.62L         1.70               1.30M         22.44              20Plasma-5  9.66               9.80Plasma-18 16.84              17.80Plasma-6  9.76               10.58Plasma-30 5.05               4.53Plasma-20 7.00               7.75Ortho-Ligand10T10 2A  0.61               0.6710T10 2B  7.24               6.7410T10 2C  13.61              15.25______________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________Comparison of Diogoxin clinical sera values (ng/ml)obtained with kit protocol (centrifugation); lidexLS (solvent extraction); lidex PS methodology and(independently) Sheba Hospital Laboratory (differentkit with centrifugation).Digoxin concentration (ng/ml)                    LIDEX LS                          Sheba HospitalSERUMBECTON-DICKINSON             LIDEX PS                    (solvent                          (Diagnostic Products)NO.  ASSAY DIRECTIONS             (Membrane)                    extraction)                          Assay Directions__________________________________________________________________________1    0.5          0.3    0.5   0.42    1.8          2.3    1.9   2.23    0.7          0.9    0.9   1.04    0.5          0.7    0.6   0.65    1.4          1.5    1.6   1.66    1.0          1.4    1.4   1.37    0.3          0.7    0.7   0.58    0.7          1.1    1.2   1.49    4.1          4.1    3.4   5.7__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 6______________________________________Comparison of Estradiol clinical sera values (pg/ml)with Biodata kit protocol and Lidex methodology.______________________________________ASSAY    BIODATA   LIDEX         REFERENCESYSTEM   20% PEG   PEG 8%/DAB    VALUES______________________________________MAX. BINDING    32.2      29.0          45(%)       3.7       6.9          9.5N.S.B.______________________________________CONCENTRATIONS         STANDARD CURVE______________________________________31.2    pg/ml     70.0      68.462.5    pg/ml     68.0      57.5125.0   pg/ml     54.7      50.1250     pg/ml     42.2      40.7500     pg/ml     34.3      33.21000    pg/ml     28.9      24.72000    pg/ml     19.7      19.3______________________________________    CLINICAL SAMPLES______________________________________SEROTEST   374.2        477.5     500      Br.S.56      Br.S.57______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 7______________________________________Comparison of Preg/stat clinical sera values obtained withSerono kit protocol and Lidex methodology.       LIDEXSerono      PEG/DAB   LIDEXKit         Serono    8% PEG/DAB  REMARKS______________________________________Max. bind   40.7%   41.3%     44.1%C.R.    1.19    1.23      1.181       0.93    0.94      1.06      -2       0.96    0.99      1.03      -3       0.96    0.97      1.0       -4       0.94    0.97      0.99      -5       0.98    1.0       1.03      -6       0.96    0.99      1.01      -7       0.97    0.99      0.97      -8       1.11    1.12      1.13      intermediate9       1.12    1.16      1.19      intermediate10      1.31    1.35      0.94      +11      1.81    1.92      0.92      +12      3.46    4.54      5.05      +13      3.58    4.76      4.41      +14      1.35    1.43      1.48      +15      1.81    1.93      1.15      +16      1.46    1.61      1.74      +______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 8______________________________________Comparison of hPL clinical sera values (ng/ml) withHypolab kit protocol and Lidex methodology.______________________________________ASSAY    HYPOLAB    LIDEX        REFERENCESYSTEM   PEG 11%    PEG 8%/DAB   VALUES______________________________________MAX.     69.8       73.8         65.7BINDING(%)N.S.B.    5.7        6.4          4.1______________________________________CONCENTRATIONS         STANDARD CURVE______________________________________12.5    ng/ml     102       94.225      ng/ml     90.4      83.250      ng/ml     79.1      73.8100     ng/ml     62        62200     ng/ml     42        40400     ng/ml     26.5      26800     ng/ml     17        14.5______________________________________CLINICAL SAMPLES______________________________________SERO TEST   94.7      77.9         89.11           &gt;800      &gt;800         &gt;8002           8.1       15.63           16.2      19.04           &gt;800      &gt;8005           66.5      986           68.0      61.3______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 9______________________________________Comparison of H1H clinical sera values (mlu/ml) obtainedwith Hypolab Kit protocol and Lidex metholodogy.______________________________________ASSAY               LIDEX        REFERENCESYSTEM   HYPOLAB    PEG 8%/DAB   VALUES______________________________________MAX.     23.6       28.8         39.2BINDING(%)N.S.B.    2.0        5.5          1.7______________________________________CONCENTRATIONS         STANDARD CURVE______________________________________2       mIU/ml    85.7      89.95       mIU/ml    63.9      69.610      mIU/ml    49.0      51.320      mIU/ml    34.4      33.740      mIU/ml    21.1      22.3100     mIU/ml    5.5       7.2______________________________________CLINICAL SAMPLES______________________________________SEROTEST    22.4   19.13     17.2a 147       13.6   14.2      2.7  divide by 1.5b 170       49.5   58.0      64.5c 180       51.5   32.6      90d           4.29   9.28e 197       4.2    5.7       6.9f 202       12.1   11.2      16.5g 205       26.2   25.73     39.8h 219       6.93   8.8       11.4i 228       2.8    3.4       5.3j 230       2.3    3.3       2.8______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 10______________________________________Comparison of T.U.E. (Total Urine Estrogens) clinical seravalues (ng/ml) with Hypolab kit protocol andLidex methodology.______________________________________    HYPOLABASSAY    Carrier Serum                LIDEX       REFERENCESYSTEM   + PEG 20%   PEG 8%/DAB  VALUES______________________________________MAX.     39.4        22.8        35.9BINDING(%)N.S.B.    3.8         4.2         3.8______________________________________CONCENTRATIONS         STANDARD CURVE______________________________________0.5     ng/ml     82.8      83.61       ng/ml     71.6      75.32       ng/ml     62.6      64.24       ng/ml     33.4      37.58       ng/ml     14.6      16.116      ng/ml     7.2       8.5______________________________________CLINICAL SAMPLES______________________________________                        29.4SEROTEST    47.3   44.9           38.0 (MEAN)                        48.0female      54.82  49.14male        47.1   42.6______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 11______________________________________Comparison of T-3 clinical sera values (ng/ml) with Biodatakit protocol and Lidex methodology.______________________________________          BIODATA   LIDEXASSAY SYSTEM   PEG 20%   PEG 8%/DAB______________________________________MAX. BINDING   62.9%     60.2%(%)N.S.B.          2.0%     4.4______________________________________CONCENTRATIONS        STANDARD CURVE______________________________________0.125   ng/ml      96.2   96.00.25    ng/ml      92.6   94.50.5     ng/ml      82.1   83.21.0     ng/ml      59.9   61.92.0     ng/ml      42.7   38.94.0     ng/ml      25.9   26.18.0     ng/ml      13.4   14.3______________________________________CLINICAL SAMPLES______________________________________SEROTEST       0.82      0.68DIL 1.2        1.02      0.6          ng/ml     ng/mla              0.97      0.96b              0.52      0.71c              0.77      0.92d              1.34      1.33e              0.69      0.68f              0.86      0.95______________________________________ NORMAL VALUES: 0.6-1.7 ng/ml. 
    
     
                       TABLE 12______________________________________Comparison hTg-Ab clinical sera values with Hypolabkit protocol and Lidex methodology.______________________________________                        LIDEX   HYPOLAB      %       CORR.   %ASSAY   CORR. COUNTS BIND-   COUNTS  BIND-SYSTEM  MEAN.sub.CPM ING     MEAN.sub.CPM                                ING______________________________________   T.C.                 T.C.T.C.    18889.55             18887.9______________________________________CONCENTRATIONS  STANDARD CURVE______________________________________1:1     1686.2      8.9%    2625.7     13.9%1:20    2014.6      10.6%   3902.5     20.6%1:100   2917.05     15.4%   5982.25    31.6%1:1000  3326.95     17.6%   7120.85    37.7%1:10000 5245.35     27.7%   8347.35    44.1%1:20000 6269.2      33.1%   9102.55    48.1%1:50000 7324.25     38.7%   9239.1     48.9%______________________________________CLINICAL SAMPLES______________________________________P.C.    4726.9      25.02   7891.5     41.7%N.C.    886.9       4.6     1880.15    9.9%a       1650.15     8.7     1540.45    8.1%b       1570.96     8.3     1955.9     10.3%c                           1777.25    9.4%______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 13______________________________________Comparison of TSH clinical sera values (μ IU/ml) withHypolab kit protocol and Lidex methodology.______________________________________                 LIDEX       HYPOLAB   PEG 8%/    REFERENCEASSAY SYSTEM       DAB/H.sub.2 O                 DAB        VALUES______________________________________MAX. BINDING       40.3%     41.8%      58.6%(%)N.S.B.       2.0%      4.8%       2.3%______________________________________CONCENTRATIONS       STANDARD CURVE______________________________________0.62   μIU/ml  98.6   95.81.25   μIU/ml  85.7   87.22.5    μIU/ml  76.3   78.65.0    μIU/ml  49.7   59.810.0   μIU/ml  28.1   29.820.0   μIU/ml  14.0   18.2______________________________________CLINICAL SAMPLES______________________________________SEROTEST   4.62          7.94         5.1Dil 1:2    4.2           4.37         4.4      HYPOLAB μIU/ml                    LIDEX μIU/mla          2.06          2.41b          1.78          1.98c          2.91          3.05d          2.86          3.3e          2.06          2.23f          1.58          1.99______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 14______________________________________Comparison of FSH clinical sera values (mlu/ml) withBiodata kit protocol and Lidex methodology.           LIDEX       ref. valueBIODATA         PEG 8%/DAB  RAMBAN/PEG 11%/DAB     Serono      HYPOLAB______________________________________a   151    2.79         3.53      2.7b   168    8.78         9.48      6.6c   227    6.55         6.73      5.6d   228    5.97         7.51      5.6e   256    31.9         34.74     34f   268    81.18        72.75     60g   277    33.17        31.0      25h   651    2.4          2.66      --i   658    1.39         2.56      2j   661    1.98         2.64      2.4k   681    8.98         10.56     7.8______________________________________