Evaluation of a commercial immunoenzymometric assay for human prolactin

A commercially available immunoenzymometric assay for human prolactin based on two monoclonal antibodies, one bound to a solid-phase bead and the other conjugated to alkaline phosphatase, was evaluated. The assay had a lower limit of detection of 2 ng/ml and between-batch coefficients of variation of less than 10% for prolactin concentrations in the range 7-152 ng/ml. Assay accuracy as judged by comparison of patient samples analysed by a RIA, assay of quality control samples and recovery experiments, was good. No significant cross-reactivities or interferences were found. The assay is precise, accurate, fast and robust with the advantage of using a non-isotopic label.