Immunonephelometry and radial immunodiffusion compared for measuring serum retinol-binding protein

We compared a nephelometric method and a radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay for the measurement of retinol-binding protein in samples of serum from children with malignancies. The mean (+/- standard deviation) retinol-binding protein concentration as measured by the Behring Nephelometer was 31.0 +/- 15.6 mg/l; the mean by RID was 31.2 +/- 15.7 mg/l. This difference was not statistically significant by Student's t test (P = 0.6), and the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.87. Thus, the Behring Nephelometer method measures retinol-binding protein rapidly and as accurately as radial immunodiffusion.