Description

The AFP IRMA [¹²⁵I] system provides a direct quantitative in vitro determination of human alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in human serum. AFP can be assayed in the range 0-500 IU/ml using 50 µl serum sample. Each kit contains materials sufficient for 100 assay tubes permitting the construction of one standard curve and assay of 42 unknowns in duplicate.

Introduction

Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 65000. It is normally produced in large amounts by the foetal liver. AFP level increases progressively and reaches a peak at the 30^th week in the maternal serum, thereafter, it decreases gradually. An elevated maternal serum AFP is associated with neural tube defect (spina bifida) and placental abnormalities, whereas the decreased AFP levels in both maternal serum and amniotic fluid are related to foetal chromosomal abnormalities (Down-syndrome). Patients affected by liver carcinoma, testicular or ovarian teratocarcinoma present very high alpha fetoprotein levels. Although less frequently, an increased alpha fetoprotein concentration may also be observed in gastric, breast and bronchial tumors. To cover the very wide range of concentration associated with the great variety of pathological processes, the current solid-phase immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) is a simple and powerful diagnostic tool for the detection of as low as 0.2 IU/ml and as high as 500 IU/ml AFP.

Principle of method

The technology uses two high affinity monoclonal antibodies in an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) system. It offers an increased level of sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional RIA methods.

The ¹²⁵I labelled signal-antibody binds to an epitope of the AFP molecule which is different from that recognised by the unlabelled capture-antibody. The two antibodies react simultaneously with the antigen present in standards or samples which leads to the formation of a capture antibody - antigen - signal antibody complex, also referred to as a “sandwich”.

Standards and samples are incubated with a mixture of the antibodies at room temperature. At the end of a one hour incubation period (no need for a shaker), magnetic immunosorbent (MIS) is added in excess. MIS particles selectively bind the APF signal antibody – capture antibody complex and settle out in a magnetic field. A wash step is critical to reducing non-specific binding to a minimum for increased low end precision.

By measuring the radioactivity of the magnetic immunosorbent pellet in a gamma counter the AFP concentration can be determined.

Contents of the kit

Materials, tools and equipment required

Round bottom polystyrene or polypropylene assay tubes, about 12 x 75 mm
Test tube rack
Precision pipettes with disposable tip (50, 200, 500 and 1000 µl)
Distilled water
Vortex mixer
Shaker
Plastic foil
Gamma counter
Absorbent tissue

Recommended tools and equipment

Repeating pipettes (e.g. Eppendorf)
Dispenser with 300 ml reservoir (instead of the 1000 µl pipette)

Specimen collection and storage

Serum samples can be prepared according to common procedures used routinely in clinical laboratory practice. Samples can be stored at 2-8 °C if the assay is carried out within 24 hours, otherwise aliquots should be prepared and stored deep frozen (-20 °C). Frozen samples should be thawed and thoroughly mixed before assaying. Repeated freezing and thawing should be avoided. Do not use lipemic, hemolyzed or turbid specimens.

If in an initial assay the serum sample is found to contain more than 500 IU/ml AFP, the sample can be diluted 10-fold with S1 standard and reassayed as described in Assay Procedure.

Preparation of reagents, storage

Add the wash buffer concentrate (20 ml) to 200 ml distilled water to obtain 220 ml wash solution. Upon dilution store at 2-8 °C until expiry date.

Store the rest of reagents between 2-8 °C after opening. At this temperature each reagent is stable until expiry date. The actual expiry date is given on the package label and in the quality certificate.

CAUTION! Equilibrate all reagents and serum samples to room temperature. Mix all reagents and samples thoroughly before use. Avoid excessive foaming.

Assay procedure

Calculation of results

The calculation is illustrated using representative data. The assay data collected should be similar to those shown in Table 2.

Calculate the average CPM for each pair of assay tubes. Calculate the normalized percent binding for each standard, control and sample respectively by using the following equation:

Using semi-logarithmic graph paper plot B/T (%) for each standard versus the corresponding concentration of AFP.

Determine the AFP concentration of the unknown samples by interpolation from the standard curve. Do not extrapolate values beyond the standard curve range.

Out of fitting programs applied for computerized data processing logit-log, or spline fittings can be used. Automated data processing systems are also available.

Table 1. Assay Protocol, Pipetting Guide (all volumes in microliters)

Table 2. Typical assay data

Figure 1.
Typical standard curve
(Do not use to calculate sample values)

Characterization of the assay

Typical assay parameters

Sensitivity

A detection limit of 0.2 IU/ml has been obtained by assaying 20 replicates of the zero standard. The sensitivity has been determined as the concentration corresponding to the sum of the mean cpm and its double standard deviation.

Hook effect

There is no high dose "hook effect" up to the AFP concentration of 3000 IU/ml.

Specificity

The monoclonal antibodies used in this IRMA kit are specific for AFP. No cross reactivity was found with human albumin.

Precision

4 patient samples were assayed in 15 replicates to determine intra-assay precision. Values obtained are shown below.

Reproducibility

To determine inter-assay precision 4 patient samples were measured in duplicates in 15 independent assays by 2 operators using different kit batches. Values obtained are shown below.

Expected Values

Healthy male: 0.47 – 5.39 IU/ml.
Healthy female: 0.37 – 4.41 IU/ml

It is recommended that each laboratory determine a reference range for its own patient population, since this may vary in different laboratories or regions.

Procedural notes

Addition of wash buffer. For the addition of wash buffer the use of a common laboratory dispenser equipped with a 300-ml glass bottle, and a flexible outlet tubing end is recommended. In lack of this tool a large-volume syringe attached to a repeating pipette can be used.

Additional information

Components from various lots or from kits of different manufacturers should not be mixed or interchanged.

Precaution

Radioactivity

This product contains radioactive material. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that local regulations or code of practice related to the handling of radioactive materials are satisfied.

Biohazard

Human blood products used in the kit have been obtained from healthy human donors. They were tested individually by using approved methods (EIA, enzyme immunoassay), and were found to be negative, for the presence of both Human Immunodeficiency Virus antibody (Anti-HIV-1) and Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg).

Care should always be taken when handling human specimens to be tested with diagnostic kits. Even if the subject has been tested, no method can offer complete assurance that Hepatitis B Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1), or other infectious agents are absent. Human blood samples should therefore be handled as potentially infectious materials.

Chemical hazard

Components contain sodium azide as an antimicrobial agent. Dispose of waste by flushing with copious amount of water to avoid build-up of explosive metallic azides in copper and lead plumbing. The total azide present in each pack is 96 mg.