| Popis: |
A microcomplement fixation method (MCF) is described for the measurement of human placental lactogen (HPL) in maternal pregnancy serum and compared with the radioimmunoassay method (RIA) in 58 women in various stages of pregnancy. MCF is not yet sensitive enough to detect HPL levels before the twelfth week of pregnancy, but thereafter the results are closely comparable by both methods. MCF is less costly and no more time-consuming than RIA and it avoids the possibility of altering the antigen by radioactive labeling. It does require strict attention to environmental conditions, but, nevertheless, should be more easily available for use in routine hospital laboratories and facilitate, thereby, the assessment of the true value of HPL in obstetric management. |
