Radioimmunoassay of progesterone in saliva: application to the assessment of ovarian function
Walker, R.F.; Read, G.F.; Riad-Fahmy, D.
Clinical Chemistry 25(12): 2030-2033
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9147 PMID: 509701 Document Number: 142651
A radioimmunoassay technique is reported which has the sensitivity required to determine progesterone concentrations in 400 muL of mixed saliva collected from normal women. The assay is precise; variations between tests were minimal. The assay was used to determine progesterone concentration in saliva samples collected daily for not less than 28 days by normal women and by patients with abnormal ovarian function. 4 of the normal women provided matched saliva and plasma samples for accurate dating of the menstrual cycle through plasma progesteorne, estradiol, lutropin, and follitropin. 9 others provided only saliva samples. Progesterone nccnentrations in saliva were found to be low (100pmol/L) during the follicular phase; they rose beginning on day 12 to a high of 230-550 pmol/L on day 21; afterward, they declined to values near 170 pmol/L at the start of menstruation. Saliva samples from 3 patients attending an infertility clinic were studied to assess ovarian function.