A more sensitive and less time-consuming sandwich enzyme immunoassay for insulin in human serum with less serum interference.

This paper describes an improved sandwich enzyme immunoassay for insulin in human serum. The detection limit was significantly improved from 0.1 mU/L to 0.02 mU/L, by incubation with guinea-pig anti-insulin Fab'-peroxidase conjugate in the presence of normal guinea-pig F(ab')2 to reduce the non-specific binding of the conjugate. The degree of serum interference was considerably reduced by coating polystyrene balls with acid-treated anti-insulin IgG and by incubating the polystyrene balls with serum samples at a lower temperature for a shorter time. The time for incubation with anti-insulin Fab'-peroxidase conjugate was also shortened. As a result, the volume of serum that could be used increased from 10 microliters to 50 microliters, and the time for immuno-reactions was reduced from 8 h to 4 h. Applicability of the present improvement to enzyme immunoassay of other antigens in human serum is discussed.