The Second International Reference Preparation of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, Human, for Immunoassay: calibration by bioassay and immunoassay in an international collaborative study.

Four batches of ampouled materials in ampoules coded 80/558, 81/502, 81/565 and 81/615 were evaluated by 22 laboratories in nine countries in an international collaborative study for their suitability to serve as a replacement for the First International Reference Preparation (IRP) of TSH, Human, for Immunoassay. The ampouled preparations were calibrated by immunoassay and bioassay. The preparation coded 80/558 had satisfactory stability and contained acceptably low levels of contamination with FSH and LH. Estimates of the immunoreactive TSH content of a set of specimens of serum in terms of 80/558 showed agreement in ranking order and no increase in variability compared with estimates made by assay against the First IRP. On the basis of these results, with the agreement of the participants in the study, and with the authorization of the Expert Committee on Biological Standardization of the World Health Organization, the preparation coded 80/558 was established in 1983 as the Second International Reference Preparation of TSH, Human, for Immunoassay, with a defined potency of 37 mi.u./ampoule. Preparations coded 81/502, 81/565 and 81/615 were found suitable to serve as working standards.