Rapid method for measuring physiological concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in blood serum.

A new single-step Extrelut column procedure for obtaining the 25-hydroxyvitamin D extract, suitable for a direct radiocompetitive test, is described. Separation of 0.1 ml of serum, on a small Extrelut column and radioassay allows a rapid, sensitive and accurate determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. The detection limit of the determination was 2 nmol/l (0.8 microgram/l) of serum. The recovery of 250HD3 added to serum was 99-108%. Intra-assay and interassay CV values were 10 and 14%, respectively. Although the method does not permit separation of dihydroxylated metabolites of vitamin D from 25-hydroxyvitamin D, it is useful in clinical practice.