Adsorbent treatment and immunoaffinity chromatography compared for removing estradiol-17 beta from plasma

Removal of estradiol-17 beta from plasma by immunoaffinity chromatography on anti-estradiol antibodies coupled to Sepharose was investigated and compared with the use of charcoal adsorbent. Both methods completely removed added [3H]estradiol from pooled male plasma. In contrast to the adsorbent treatment, which caused marked changes in the biochemical composition of the plasma, immunoaffinity chromatography caused only minor perturbations. We discuss the advantages of using plasma, stripped of endogenous estradiol or other steroids by immunoaffinity chromatography, in construction of radioimmunoassay calibration curves.