Manual Immunonephelometric Assay of Proteins, with Use of Polymer Enhancement

Abstract

Abstract A manual immunonephelometric method for proteins has been developed by using an ordinary fluorometer as a nephelometer. By applying the enhancing effect of polyethylene glycol (av mol wt, 6000) on the immunological reaction, albumin and fibrinogen were quantitated after a 10-min reaction time. Under the present conditions the sensitivity was increased and thus antiserum consumption was decreased. The reaction conditions were carefully studied with respect to optimal time and concentration of the reactants. The precision of the method was 2.6-3.6% (CV). The lower detection limit in the albumin-antialbumin system was 0.1 mg/liter. Comparative studies showed a correlation coefficient of 0.991 with an automated immunonephelometric method for urinary albumin, and of 0.908 with a thrombin clottable method for plasma fibrinogen. We especially suggest use of this manual immunonephelometric method where small series of samples are to be analyzed.