TIME-RESOLVED IMMUNOFLUOROMETRIC ASSAYS FOR URINARY LUTEINIZING-HORMONE AND FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE

The goal of this effort was to develop and validate non-radioisotopic immunoassays for measuring luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulatin g hormone in unextracted urine. Towards this goal, commercial time-res olved immunofluorometric assays (IFMAs) were modified. Validation demo nstrated that the resultant assays were specific, sensitive, accurate, and precise. Urine matrix was shown not to interfere with the assay. Gonadotropin profiles generated using these assays conformed to those measured in urine and serum by other established immunoassays. These I FMAs afford the collective advantages of non-radioisotopic procedures and urine sample collection (convenience, noninvasiveness, integration of pulsatile secretion), plus the superior sensitivity and specificit y of IFMAs. Applications include epidemiology and medicine.