ANALYTICAL EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR SERUM CREATINE KINASE-MB - ELECTROPHORESIS, IMMUNOINHIBITION AND SOLID-PHASE SEPARATION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate immunoassay methods for the measurement of serum cardiac creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) with re spect to sensitivity and specificity. The CK-MB electrophoretic assay (Helena Laboratories) was used as the reference. Two principles of imm unoassay were included in the evaluation, -immunoinhibition and solid phase separation. The direct immunoinhibition techniques were from Bec kman Instruments (CKMB reagent) and DuPont Medical Products (CKMB). Th ree solid phase separation techniques were from Abbott Laboratories (I Mx CKMB), DuPont (aca Plus MCKMB), and Tosoh Medics Inc. (AIA-Pack CKM B). The electrophoretic method for separation of the CK isoenzymes has good specificity but lacks sensitivity for CK-MB in low concentration s. The immunoinhibition methods lack specificity and correlate poorly with the electrophoresis method and with the solid phase methods. The solid phase separation techniques are highly sensitive and show an exc ellent correlation with electrophoresis when based on specificity. The solid phase separation methods correlate well with each other.