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Results with commercial radioassay kits compared with microbiological assay of folate in serum and whole-blood. [All bits used /sup 125/I-labelled plate]

Journal Article · · Clin. Chem.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6477489
Results with three commercial folate radioassay kits (Bio-Rad, New England Nuclear (NEN), and RIA Products) were compared with those by microbiological assay for more than 200 samples of human serum and whole blood. All but one kit (NEN) compared favorably with the microbiological assay for serum samples, although there were notable diagnostic discrepancies. Two kits (NEN and Bio-Rad) were tested on whole-blood samples; both yielded values significantly higher than those by microbiological assay. The frequency distributions of erythrocyte folate data differed strikingly between the two kits; the NEN method yielded a much narrower range of normal values than did either the Bio-Rad or the microbiological assay. Radioassay kits appear to be suitable diagnostic agents for serum folate, if the behavior of a particular kit is investigated thoroughly before its routine use. However, the diagnostic value of radioassays of erythrocyte folate needs to be validated.
Research Organization:
Letterman Army Inst. of Research, San Francisco, CA
OSTI ID:
6477489
Journal Information:
Clin. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Clin. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 24:12; ISSN CLCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English