Fluorescence polarization immunoassay of urinary vanillylmandelic acid

Abstract

This rapid fluorescence polarization immunoassay for urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) involves use of our previously described antiserum and label and the program for 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the Abbott TDx fluorimeter. Urine samples were measured directly, without pretreatment. The minimum detectable concentration was 0.3 mg/L, and the range of the standard curve was 0.3-200.0 mg/L. Precision, analytical recovery, and correlation of results with those by the Pisano method (Clin Chim Acta 1962;7:285-91) were all satisfactory. With this procedure one can determine the VMA concentration in 10 urine samples in 22 min. This is the first report of a clinical immunoassay for VMA and should greatly simplify screening for neural crest tumors.