A radioimmunoassay for erythropoietin
JB Sherwood and E Goldwasser
We describe the development of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for erythropoietin.
Antisera were raised in rabbits with an impure human urinary erythropoietin
preparation used as immunogen, but with pure human erytropoietin serving as
the labeled antigen in the RIA and as a primary standard. The
immunoreactivity of erythropoietin is not altered significantly by the mode
of labeling with radioiodine, even though the biologic activity is lost.
With this method, it is possible to detect 2- -3 mU of erythropoietin in a
volume of 0.1--0.3 ml. Therefore, the method can be used for detection of
normal and subnormal serum titers as well as elevated titers. RIA for
erythropoietin does not distinguish between the native (active in vivo) and
the asialo form (inactive in vivo) and cannot yet be used for routine
monitoring of crude fractions during purification.
Volume 54,
Issue 4,
pp. 885-893,
10/01/1979
Copyright © 1979 by The American Society of Hematology
