Endogenous interference in imunoassays in clinical chemistry. A rewiev

Abstract

The increasing availability and use of immunoassays in clinical chemistry have revealed a number of endogeneous interferences. Solid-phase sandwich immunoassays based on monoclonal antibodies are particularly sensitive to any factor able to bridge immunoglobulins together. Heterophilic immunoglobulin antibodies have been demonstrated in up to 40% of patient samples and to cause spuriously elevated results unless certain precautions are taken. Rheumatoid factors belong to the same category, but their affinity is usually too low to cause significant interference. Immunoscintigraphy generates high-litre anti-immunoglobulin responses causing serious interferences in immunoassays. Recently interfering factors of unknown nature causing nonspecific binding of enzyme-labelled antibodies have been observed. Spuriously decreased values can be caused by complement, which may interfere with antigen-binding to solid phase antibody. The aforementioned and other endogeneous interferences in immunoassays are reviewed and methods for their elimination discussed.

Key Words:

• autoantibodies
• heterophilic antibodies
• monoclonal antibodies
• rheumatoid factor.