1630 – SELco® Calcitonin

The SELco® Calcitonin is a quantitative immunoassay for the determination of calcitonin (hCT) in human serum. The SELco® Calcitonin is intended as an aid in the diagnosis of thyroid dysfunctions in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory findings.

The diagnostic role of calcitonin, primarily secreted by the parafollicular C-cells of the thyroid gland, is used during its abnormally elevated levels characteristic of thyroid C-cell hyperplasia and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The biological role of calcitonin includes the regulation of blood calcium and phosphate levels, antagonistic to the function of parathyroid hormone. Detection of calcitonin, in addition to other parameters are used by physicians in the; diagnosis of MTC; calcium testing; screening of patients for the presence of C cells hyperplasia.

Radioimmunoassays based on coated tube technology are widely used for the determination of specific antigens. The SELco® Calcitonin immunoassay is based on a reaction of two monoclonal antibodies against calcitonin (hCT), one biotinylated and another conjugated with Iodine-125. If calcitonin is present in the patient´s sample, the antibodies bind simultaneously to different epitopes of the antigen. The generated immune complex is detected by streptavidin coated on the inner surface of the tubes. Decantation of the reaction mixture allows for the simple separation of generated immune complexes on the surface of the tube from the reaction mixture. The radioactivity of the tube is measured and proportional to the calcitonin concentration in the patient´s sample.

The immunoassay is designed for manual professional in vitro diagnostic use.