Development and evaluation of three real-time immuno-PCR assemblages for quantification of PSA

Real-time PCR is a very sensitive technique to measure DNA concentrations. In real-time immuno-PCR, it is used as the detection system for quantification of proteins. Many ways to perform and assemble real-time immuno-PCR are possible. We have tested three different approaches for the detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and compared them with each other and with ELISA. We also demonstrate the applicability of real-time immuno-PCR to classify clinical PSA samples. Assemblage I is performed stepwise attaching the capture antibody to the vessel surface by adsorption and having the DNA-label linked to the detection antibody through biotin and streptavidin. In assemblage II, capture antibody is also adsorbed to the vessel surface but the detection antibody is pre-conjugated to the DNA-label. Assemblage III uses the pre-conjugated detection antibody/DNA-label but binds the capture antibody through biotin to surface immobilized streptavidin. We found assemblage II to be the most sensitive, with a detection limit of 4.8 x 10(5) PSA molecules. This can be compared to the detection limit of the ELISA, which is 5.7 x 10(7) molecules. Assemblage III was the most reproducible with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.21 cycles, while assemblage I was the least reproducible (SD=0.45 cycles). The SD of assemblage II was 0.25 cycles. We conclude that using pre-conjugated detection antibody/DNA-label enhances both the sensitivity and the reproducibility of real-time immuno-PCR. Measurements of PSA in serum samples using real-time immuno-PCR correlated well with measurements performed with ELISA. The real-time immuno-PCR measurements were more sensitive and the dynamic range was larger than with the ELISA.