With T-4-bovine IgG as a solid-phase antigen, we have developed a direct co
mpetitive-type immunoassay for serum total thyroxine (TT4), which depends o
n the competitive distribution of europium-labeled anti-T-4 monoclonal anti
body between solid-phase-bound T-4 and the T-4 in the sample or standard. T
he captured fraction of the tracer was measured after a dissociation-enhanc
ement step. Four different T-4 protein conjugates were synthesized, of whic
h T-4-bovine IgG was selected as the most favorable for the preparation of
solid-phase antigen. The sensitivity was 3.5 ng/ml with a sample volume of
20 mu I. T-4 values obtained by this procedure agreed well with those obtai
ned by RIA (r = 0.967, n = 38) and EG&G Wallac TRFIA. (r = 0.926, n = 64).
All other quality criteria was also fulfilled with respect to precision, ac
curacy, and dynamic range. (C) 1999 Academic Press.