Minimal effects of free fatty acids on the competitive protein-binding assay of serum thyroxine on reusable Sephadex columns.

In rats; following oral administration of cream and intravenous heparin, plasma free fatty acids and triiodothyronine Sephadex uptake were elevated. Simultaneously apparent serum thyroxine, measured by the Tetrasorb-E kit, was increased, but not when measured using reusable Sephadex columns. Addition of oleate to a human serum albumin solution or to human serum produced similar effects; appreciable rises in apparent thyroxine were noted in the kit assay but only minor changes occurred when Sephadex columns were used. In the latter procedure almost all [14C]oleic acid added to serum was removed in the first barbital buffer wash, before application of the thyroxine-binding globulin solution. In the serum thyroxine assay on reusable Sephadex columns, there is minimal interference by free fatty acids because they are removed by the first barbital buffer wash.