ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY METHOD FOR TOTAL URINARY FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE (FSH) BETA-SUBUNIT AND ITS APPLICATION FOR MEASUREMENT OF TOTAL URINARY FSH

Objective: To develop and validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assa y (ELISA) for total urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that ca n be used to evaluate frozen-thawed urine samples. Design: A method wa s developed for dissociating urinary FSH into subunits by boiling. An ELISA for the free beta subunit of FSH was used to measure total FSH i n urine samples collected from male and female volunteers. The urinary FSH values were compared with serum FSH concentrations in paired samp les. Setting: A clinical research laboratory. Patient(s): Serum and ur ine samples from normal male and female volunteers and from men with i nfertility were used to develop and validate an assay for total urinar y FSH. Intervention(s): None. Result(s): Urinary FSH concentrations in frozen-thawed urine were highly correlated to matched serum FSH conce ntrations. Conclusion(s): A microtiter plate ELISA for FSH beta subuni t provides an economical method for evaluating FSH secretion in men an d women. This method has practical applications for population-based e pidemiologic studies in which urine samples are collected in the field and stored frozen before analysis. (C) 1998 by American Society for R eproductive Medicine.