Rapid, automated assay for progesterone on the Abbott AXSYM analyzer

We describe an automated assay for progesterone (P4) in human serum and plasma with the Abbott AxSYM random-access immunoassay analyzer. In this one-step competitive assay, P4 immobilized onto latex microparticles competes with sample P4 for binding to a conjugate of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and anti-P4 antibody. Total CVs ranged from 3.4% to 8.2% in multiple precision studies conducted according to the 20-day NCCLS EP5-T protocol. The detection limit (zero calibrator + 2 SD) was 0.10 microg/L across 36 experiments. Values for diluted samples were 83-116% of expected. Recovery of P4 added to serum specimens was 92-115%. Cross-reactivities with 43 natural and synthetic steroids were 0-6.3%. No significant interference was detected from bilirubin, protein, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, triglycerides, or cholesterol. In a multisite correlation study, AxSYM P4 results compared well with results from a commercial RIA method (n = 1156; r = 0.976; slope = 1.03; y-intercept = 0.04). Assay throughput is >80 tests per hour in batch mode, 60 tests per hour with mixed load list configurations.