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Technical note: is there a season for iodinating relaxin?
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
Journal of Immunoassay
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Antibody binding in porcine relaxin radioimmunoassays decreased seasonally during winter. This seasonal variation was not caused by cold-related iodide deterioration or equipment issues.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Immunoassay development
- Veterinary diagnostics
Background:
- Porcine relaxin is a crucial hormone in reproductive physiology.
- Radioimmunoassays (RIAs) are standard diagnostic tools for hormone quantification.
- Seasonal fluctuations in biological assays can impact data reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of reduced antibody binding in a porcine relaxin radioimmunoassay.
- To identify the source of observed seasonal variations in assay performance.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring antibody binding in porcine relaxin radioimmunoassay over three winters.
- Systematic elimination of potential causes including reagent stability and equipment function.
Main Results:
- A consistent loss of antibody binding was observed during the coldest winter months.
- Cold deterioration of radioiodination reagents was ruled out as the cause.
- Equipment malfunctions were excluded as a contributing factor.
Conclusions:
- The seasonal decrease in antibody binding in porcine relaxin RIAs is a recurring phenomenon.
- The underlying cause of this seasonal variation remains unidentified.
- Further investigation is required to elucidate the mechanism behind the observed assay instability.