[A simplified method in determination of blood 17-hydroxyprogesterone by radioimmunoanalysis]

A practical method to measure 17-OHP, in peripheral blood by radioimmunoanalysis using a highly specific antiserum, is described. The method usefulness described in dependability studies present a sensitivity of the pattern curve of 10 picograms; precision shows a variation rate intranalysis < or = 11.9% and interanalysis of < or = 10.0%. Accuracy was > or = 95% and specificity is demonstrated by antiserum characterization with other steroids. Measuring 17-OHP4 in ng/ml in plasma of women under different physiological conditions, it was found that the levels of this hormone on day -5 of proliferative phase were 0.31 +/- 0.24 nanograms (ng)/ml, and at day +7 of secretory phase of 1.47 +/- 0.65 ng/ml. In patients with stimulation with ACTH show as to the basal sample an increase (double) of levels at 30 minutes, that keeps increasing until 90 minutes with certain trend to diminish at 120 minutes. This study shows that it is possible, to measure 17-OHP4 in human plasma with good dependability degree and easy handling reducing, in addition, operative cost.