Two-site direct immunoassay specific for active renin.

A sensitive immunoradiometric assay, without an enzymatic step and specific for active human renin, was developed with use of two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). In this assay system, the first MAb was coupled to magnetic beads (Magnogel); the second one, directed against the active form of the enzyme, was radiolabeled with 125I. The specificity of this assay was demonstrated in experiments measuring the active plasma renin concentration in the presence or absence of inactive renin. The assay, performed in two steps, was sensitive enough to detect 0.9 pg of renin per tube (3.5 ng/L). Intra- or interassay CVs were < 10%. Concentrations of active plasma renin measured in normotensive subjects were between 7 and 40 ng/L.