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Issues in Endocrine Immunoassay

  • Chapter
Handbook of Diagnostic Endocrinology

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

Over the past 30 years, immunoassays have become a valuable and widely available tool among the repertoire of clinical methods to assess hormonal function (1,2). The majority of hormonal proteins and steroids are bioactive at extremely low concentrations in the peripheral circulation, and hormone metabolites often play a significant physiological role at target tissue sites. Therefore, evaluation of a patient’s endocrine status with a given immunoassay is dependent upon both the sensitivity and specificity of that assay. Hormone levels outside a given reference range can indicate a pathologic disease process. When clinical decisions regarding a patient’s hormonal status or their response to a therapeutic intervention are based on hormone testing, it is important that due consideration be given to issues relating to the validity and utility of the assay.

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Authors
  1. Sabrina Gill MD
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  2. Frances J. Hayes MD
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  3. Patrick M. Sluss PhD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Janet E. Hall MD

  2. Pediatric and Reproductive Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Lynnette K. Nieman MD

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Gill, S., Hayes, F.J., Sluss, P.M. (2003). Issues in Endocrine Immunoassay. In: Hall, J.E., Nieman, L.K. (eds) Handbook of Diagnostic Endocrinology. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-293-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-293-7_1

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-172-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-293-7

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