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Improving the specificity of digoxin immunoassays
1Department of Pathology, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, KY.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift. Supplementum
|January 11, 1992
Summary
Immunoassays have improved digoxin measurement, but endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive factors (DLIF) still challenge accuracy. Characterizing DLIF is key to developing more specific digoxin assays.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Immunoassays have enhanced digoxin serum measurement reliability.
- Measuring digoxin is challenging due to low concentrations, narrow therapeutic ranges, and endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive factors (DLIF).
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe recent developments in characterizing DLIF from bovine adrenal cortex and human serum.
- To review techniques for reducing DLIF cross-reactivity in digoxin immunoassays.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of DLIF from bovine adrenal cortex and human serum.
- Review of techniques to reduce DLIF cross-reactivity.
Main Results:
- A principal endogenous molecular factor (DLIF) in humans cross-reacts with anti-digoxin antibodies.
- DLIF can be present at concentrations high enough to interfere with most digoxin immunoassays.
- Isolation and purification of DLIF offer new strategies for selecting specific anti-digoxin antibodies.
Conclusions:
- DLIF poses a significant challenge to accurate digoxin immunoassay measurements.
- All digoxin immunoassays require testing for interference from endogenous DLIF.
- DLIF characterization and purification enable the development of more accurate digoxin immunoassays.