An evaluation of serum erythropoietin estimation by a hemagglutination inhibition assay in the differential diagnosis of polycythemia.

A commercially available hemagglutination inhibition assay kit for the measurement of erythropoietin (EPO) was evaluated for its usefulness in the differential diagnosis of the polycythemic states. Serum samples were obtained from patients with polycythemia rubra vera (active and controlled), secondary and relative polycythemia and from normal controls. Firstly, we found that the mean EPO level (+/- SD) of our normal controls (81 +/- 69 miu/ml) was higher than the manufacturer's quoted normal range (15-59 miu/ml) and that there was a significant spread of values (7-233 miu/ml). Secondly, within each patient subgroup studied, the spread of data points was so wide that interpretation of individual data points would be impossible. We conclude that this assay kit is of little value for serum EPO estimation and in the differential diagnosis of polycythemia.