Thyroid Hormone ELISA - Free T4

Enzyme Immunoassay for the Quantitative Determination of Free Thyroxine (fT4) Concentration in Human Serum

FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. NOT FOR USE IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

SUMMARY
L-Thyroxine (T4) or 3,5,3’,5’-tetraiodothyronine is the most commonly measured thyroid hormone for the diagnosis of thyroid function. T4 has its primary infuence on protein synthesis and oxygen consumption in virtually all tissues but it is also important for growth, development, and sexual maturation.

T4 is synthesized by the thyroid gland and is secreted into the bloodstream. Here the T4 becomes bound to serum proteins for transport to the cells. The major transport protein is Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TBG) which normally accounts for 80% of the bound T4. Other thyroid hormone binding proteins are Thyroxine Binding Prealbumin and Albumin. Most of the serum T4 is bound to these transport proteins leaving only about 0.03% free to exert its effect on cells. It is the free T4 (fT4) that represents the metabolically active fraction; for this reason the measurement of fT4 concentration is considered to be an indicator of patient thyroid status.

Primary hypothyroidism results in underproduction of T4 by the thyroid gland and consequently an abnormally low circulating fT4 concentration in the blood. Primary hyperthyroidism leads to excessive thyroid production on T4 and resulting elevated fT4 concentration.

Total serum T4 concentrations are dependent on the level of circulating TBG as well as the patient’s thyroid status. The concentration of TBG can be affected by certain drugs, steriod hormones, pregnancy, and by various nonthyroid illnesses. In an earlier generation of thyroid function tests, the effect of variable TBG concentration was dealt with by calculating a Free Thyroxine Index (FTI). This FTI is the product of Total T4 concentration and Thyroid Uptake (TU), which assesses the number of available binding sites on the TBG. This approach requires carrying out two separate assay determinations (total T4 and TU), but does provide a better indicator of thyroid status than total T4 alone. fT4 tests are designed to directly reflect the equilibrium existing in serum between T4 and TGB-bound T4. These methods, including this fT4 test, can generally reflect thyroid status in a single assay.

PRINCIPLE OF THE TEST
The fT4 test is a solid phase competitive enzyme immunoassay. Patient serum samples, standards, and Thyroxine-Enzyme Conjugate Working Reagent are added to wells coated with monoclonal T4 antibody. fT4 in the patient specimen and the T4 labeled conjugate compete for available binding sites on the antibody. After a 60 minutes incubation at room temperature, the wells are washed with water to remove unbound T4 conjugate. A solution of H2O2/TMB is then added and incubated for 20 minutes, resulting in the development of blue color. The color development is stopped with the addition of 3N HCl, and the absorbance is measured spectrophotometrically at 450 nm. The intensity of the color formed is proportional to the amount of enzyme present and is inversely related to the amount of unlabeled fT4 in the sample. By reference to a series of fT4 standards assayed in the same way, the condentration of fT4 in the unknown sample is quantified.

EXAMPLE OF STANDARD CURVE
Results of a typical standard run with optical density readings at 450 nm shown in the Y axis against Thyroid Hormone concentrations shown in the X axis. This standard curve is for the purpose of illustration only, and should not be used to calculate unknowns. Each user should obtain his or her own data and standard curve.