[The radio immune level of total serum oestriol during pregnancy. An examination of the method and comparison of the concentrations of total serum oestriol, non-conjugated serum oestriol and the excretion of total urinary oestrogens (author's transl)].

The authors report on a preliminary study of the level of total serum oestriol in the third trimester of pregnancy by the bundle method of estimating this with "oestriol 1251 RIA Kit" (Amersham, Buchler). The criteria on which the quality of the method depends, viz, sensitivity, specificity, reliability, and accuracy, together with its practicability are satisfactory. Correlations between total serum oestriol and free serum oestriol and total urinary oestrogens are good and correspond with those given in the literature. This method therefore can be used in clinical practice. All the same, it still has to be established which parameter better reflects the feto-placental state. Is it the free serum oestriol or the total serum oestriol?