METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN INDEX OF BINDING PROTEIN CONTENT OF BLOOD

摘要

A method for determining an index of binding proteins in a serum sample comprising the steps of: 1. Forming a mixture of a) the serum sample, having ligand binding sites,b) a quantity (usually a trace amount) of radioactive ligand and c) an amount of non-radioactive ligand such that the total amount of ligand (radioactive and non-radioactive) is in excess of the ligand binding sites available in the serum sample; 2. Contacting the mixture with a quantity of a binder having a preferential affinity for the ligand; and 3. Thereafter determining the distribution of the radioactive ligand such as by measuring the radioactivity of the binder. The method is particularly applicable for determining thyroxine binding protein content in serum. The method is also applicable to determine an index of serum free thyroxine as determined by the ratio of the concentration of thyroxine to the concentration of thyroxine binding proteins.