A modified radioimmunoassay for the detection of histamine release in vivo and in vitro in man.

Histamine (Hi) release in vitro or in vivo in man was measured by variants of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure. Hi released from isolated basophils was converted enzymically to N-tau-methylhistamine (NMH) which was then measured by a very sensitive RIA. This modified RIA was compared with the standard spectrofluorometric assay and was found to have additional advantages in certain applications. RIA of NMH in plasma was found to be of value in acute medical conditions of obscure aetiology.