A method for isolation, characterization, and quantitation of soluble proteins in uterine cervical secretion

By sodium chloride (0.66 M) extraction of cervical mucus on an inert chromatographic bed, soluble proteins can be conveniently recovered. Individual proteins such as albumin and IgG may then be quantitated by immunonephelometry. The procedure has been shown to improve reproducibility which is very poor in the presence of mucin. By concentrating the NaCl extract by centrifiltration, proteins present in low concentrations - such as complement C3 - can be measured. The concentrate has also been used for analyses by isoelectric focusing or gradient gel electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels.