[Determination of plasma progesterone. Comparison of immunochemical luminescence (LIA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA)].

The authors describe an immunoassay technique of serum progesterone using a chemiluminescent tracer (LIA): progesterone aminobutylethylisoluminol 11-a-hemisuccinate (P-ABEI). The intrinsic characteristics of this technique were studied. The progesterone concentrations of 62 serum samples were simultaneously titrated using this LIA technique and a RIA technique. This LIA technique is quite practicable. The intra and inter-series ability to reproduce this test, and the sensitivities are excellent and comparable to those obtained with RIAs. There is a good correlation between the serum concentrations of progesterone determined by LIA and RIA (y = 1.12 x + 3.2; r = 0.95). A test with paired series did not demonstrate any significant difference (t = 0.67; 0.1 less than p less than or equal to 0.375). In conclusion, with a few technical adjustments (automated light meter, "coat tube"), this method could be perfectly suitable for titrations in a Biology laboratory.