Superior analytic characteristics of an immunometric assay for gonadotropins also provides useful clinical prediction of in vitro fertilization outcomes.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an analytically superior gonadotropin assay, the monoclonal, two-site immunometric assay, also provided superior prediction of clinical outcomes when compared with conventional RIA methodology. DESIGN: Methods comparison study. SETTING: Tertiary academic center. PATIENTS One hundred fifty-seven consecutive IVF patients. INTERVENTION Comparisons of FSH and LH levels on cycle day 3 were made using paired RIA and immunometric assay procedures. The ability of day 3 LH, FSH, and their ratio in predicting IVF performance was determined using regression analyses. RESULTS: The predictive ability of FSH as assayed by immunometric assay at least equaled that obtained by RIA for both peak E2 levels and the number of mature oocytes retrieved. CONCLUSION: Results from this study indicate that gonadotropin levels as measured by immunometric assay represent an effective clinical tool in predicting IVF outcomes that may prove superior to RIA.