Recent advances in chemiluminescence-based immunoassays for steroid hormones.

Several formats of solid-phase separation techniques for the measurement of steroids and urinary steroid conjugates using chemiluminescence as an end point are described. These formats include: (1) immunoadsorption of second antibodies directed against the first antibody on solid support; (2) specific immunoadsorbents consisting of primary antibodies covalently coupled to polymer beads; (3) second antibody coupled to a polymer containing magnetic particles. In these assays a steroid-chemiluminescent marker conjugate serves as the labelled ligand, and highly specific homologous monoclonal antibodies are used to provide optimal specificity and rigorous standardization. These techniques enabled the direct measurement of steroid glucuronides in diluted urine and of steroids in plasma.