Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) ELISA

Enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin in human serum.

INTENDED USE:For the quantitative determination of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin by an enzyme immunoassay in human serum.

GENERAL INFORMATION:Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein composed of 373 amino acid residues and three carbohydrate side chains. SHBG has been known by many other names including Testosteroneestradiol Binding Globulin (TeBG), Sex steroid Binding Protein (sBP) and Sex Steroid Binding Globulin (SSBG). One of the main properties of SHBG is its high affi nity for steroids, especially the C18, C19 and 17α-hydroxyl groups. The binding of steroids to SHBG is temperature and pH dependent. The three steroids that have a high avidity for SHBG are Dihydrotestosterone, Testosterone and Estradiol. Very small amounts of these steroids are free in biological fluid; the majority are bound to SHBG and albumin. These two fractions, that is, free and bound exist in a state of dynamic equilibrium. When the level of SHBG concentration changes, a remarkable change occurs in both albumin-bound hormone and also in the free fraction.
Throughout life SHBG increases until the eighties in both sexes. During the menstrual cycle SHBG does not seem to vary appreciably, however, according to some authors the concentration of SHBG is elevated in the luteal phase. During pregnancy the level of SHBG rises rapidly until about the 30th week of gestation.

Many agents or conditions that affect SHBG levels include:
- Estrogens and thyroid hormone cause an increase in the concentration of plasma SHBG levels.
- Androgens, growth hormone (GH) (in vivo), prolactin (in vivo), insulin (in vitro), obesity and high lipids cause a decrease in the concentration of plasma SHBG levels.

Clinical Trends:
- Increased SHBG levels occur in hypogonodal men, hyperthyroidism, alcoholic liver disease, primary biliary cirrhoses (women), anorexia nervosa (women).
- Decreased SHBG levels occur in myxedema, hyperprolactinaemia (women), acromegaly growth hormone therapy, obesity and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

KIT CHARACTERISTICS:
- Method: ELISA
- Tests: 96
- Incubation Time / Conditions: 30 min, 15 min, 10-15 min (RT/shaker)
- Standard Range: 3.3 - 295 nmol/l
- Sensitivity analytical: 0.1 nmol/l
- Final Sample Volume: 20 µl
- Sample Type: serum
- Sample Pretreatment: dilution (1:10)
- Isotope / Substrate: TMB 450 nm
- Internal Controls: 2
- Regulatory Status: CE