Background: Measurement of
estradiol level in women under treatment with ovulation induction drugs to make
sure about sufficient ovum number in the infertility treatment protocol and
also to prevent OHSS phenomenon, is an important and necessary factor. In case
of high levels of Estradiol hormone, routine methods are unable to detect the
real concentration of the hormone molecules. We are aimed to demonstrate the
sensitivity of the ELISA method for Estradiol measurement and reliable range of
this test.
Methods: In this cross-sectional
study, 132 women were studied who have appealed to Avicenna infertility clinic
for infertility treatment and have stimulated with ovulation induction drugs.
DRG ELISA Estradiol kit made in Germany was used in this study. According to
the studied population, serum Estradiol levels were higher than 200Pg/ml. To
check the linearity of this method, serum samples of all these patients diluted
1:4 and were compared using EXCEL software and charts.
Results: It was observed that, in Estradiol hormone
concentrations higher than 2000 Pg/ml, the difference between the diluted and
undiluted graphs increased and the linearity of the graph disappeared without
dilution.
Conclusions: Dilution is
necessary for the serum Estradiol concentrations more than 2000 Pg/ml and the
results without dilution is not reliable. It should be considered in all
infertility laboratories and also in other labs that the test linearity should
be appointed in each lab to be applied in cases with higher concentrations.
