Main description:

Hormone measurement is necessary for the diagnosis of a wide range of clinical conditions and is essential for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment. As the number of hormone requests in the clinical field rises exponentially, it has become imperative to create hormone assays accessible to researchers with a varied range of equipment. Hormone Assays in Biological Fluids, Second Edition reviews common techniques used to measure hormones as well as relatively new methods such as tandem mass spectrometry. Additionally, subsequent chapters detail methods for a broad range of hormones; Techniques and principles covered are transferable to a wide range of substances across species. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and easily accessible, Hormone Assays in Biological Fluids, Second Edition will serve students, technologists, laboratory scientists, and researchers looking to apply, or attain a greater understanding of, methods for measuring hormones.

Contents:

1. A Short History of Hormone Measurement

Michael J. Wheeler

2. Immunoassay Techniques

Michael J. Wheeler

3. Introduction to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Alberto Sanchez-Guijo, Michaela F. Hartmann, and Stefan A. Wudy

4. Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Hormone Measurement

Helen P. Field

5. Methods for the Investigation of Thyroid Functions

A. Morovat

6. The Measurement of LH, FSH and Prolactin

Michael J. Wheeler

7. Assays of GH, IGF-1 and IGF Binding Protein-3

Nishan Guha

8. Measurement of Arginine Vasopressin

Nadia El-Farhan, David Hampton, and Michael Penny

9. The Measurement of Anti-Mullerian Hormone

Michael J. Wheeler

10. Measurement of Gut Hormones in Plasma

Steve Bloom, Mohammad Ghateri, and Paul Bech

11. Measurement of Melatonin and 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin

Benita Middleton

12. Measurement of Glucocorticoids in Biological Fluids

Laura Owen

13. Measurement of Androgens

Helen P. Field and Michael J. Wheeler

14. Measurement of Aldosterone in Blood

Sophie C. Barnes

15. Measurement of Plasma Renin Activity

Sophie C. Barnes

16. Measurement of Vitamin D

Loretta Ford

17. Urine Steroid Profiling

Norman Taylor

18. Internal Quality Control

Edward Kearney

19. External Quality Assessment Schemes for Immunoassays

Catherine Sturgeon