A radioimmunoassay for retinol-binding protein in serum and urine.

In this radioimmunoassay for human retinol-binding protein (RBP), sample (serum, diluted as much as 3600-fold; or urine, diluted or undiluted) or calibrant (purified RBP in phosphate buffer containing bovine serum albumin) is incubated with 125I-labeled RBP and rabbit anti-human RBP antiserum for 24 h before separation with second antibody/polyethylene glycol. The assay's sensitivity is 5 micrograms/L, its useful working range 10 to 200 micrograms/L. The between-batch CV is 12.5% at 12 micrograms/L, 7% at 120 micrograms/L. Results correlate well (r = 0.99) with those by radial immunodiffusion. The reference interval for RBP in serum of men is 39-75 mg/L (mean 57), significantly (p less than 0.01) broader than for women (29-66 mg/L; mean 48). The 2.5-97.5 centile interval for RBP in urine is from less than 0.5 to 12.2 micrograms per millimole of creatinine (median 5.8). RBP in urine is unstable below pH 5.0 at 37 degrees C.