Simultaneous radioimmunoassay of thyrotropin and thyroxine in human serum.

The importance of early diagnois and treatment of congenital hypothyroidism has been well established, and several screening programs have been undertaken to detect neonates with this disorder by measurement of concentrations of thyrotropin or thyroxine in the serum. However, measurement of either hormone alone may fail to identify all affected patients. Accordingly, we have established a simultaneous double-antibody, dual-isotope radioimmunoassay for both. Sensitivity, slope, analytical recovery, and precision characteristics of the simultaneous assay do not differ from those of each assay performed separately. Values for the two analyses in the single and simultaneous assays correlate well (r = 0.951 for thyroxine, 0.983 for thyrotropin). This assay system permits determination of both hormones within 72 h after specimen collection and thus should allow more rapid evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of infants with congenital hypothyroidism.