Superior analytic characteristics of an immunometric assay for gonadotropins also provides useful clinical prediction of in vitro fertilization outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether an analytically superior gonadotropin assay, the monoclonal, two-site immunometric assay, also provided superior prediction of clinical outcomes when compared with conventional RIA methodology.

DESIGN

Methods comparison study.

SETTING

Tertiary academic center.

PATIENTS

One hundred fifty-seven consecutive IVF patients.

INTERVENTION

Comparisons of FSH and LH levels on cycle day 3 were made using paired RIA and immunometric assay procedures. The ability of day 3 LH, FSH, and their ratio in predicting IVF performance was determined using regression analyses.

RESULTS

The predictive ability of FSH as assayed by immunometric assay at least equaled that obtained by RIA for both peak E2 levels and the number of mature oocytes retrieved.

CONCLUSION

Results from this study indicate that gonadotropin levels as measured by immunometric assay represent an effective clinical tool in predicting IVF outcomes that may prove superior to RIA.