Abbott's fluorescence polarization immunoassay for cyclosporine and metabolites compared with the Sandoz "Sandimmune" RIA.

A new procedure for measuring cyclosporine in plasma has been introduced by Abbott Laboratories, involving their TDx instrumentation and fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and high-performance liquid chromatography are currently the conventional methods for measuring cyclosporine in plasma and whole blood. In an effort to find a method that will decrease the radioactive hazard, the reagent and supply cost, and the labor requirements associated with RIA procedures, we used specimens from transplantation patients to compare the Abbott assay with the Sandoz Sandimmune assay. We believe that the Abbott assay offers some advantages over the Sandimmune RIA procedure, providing a reliable but simpler and less hazardous technology.