Which substance is known to cause false results in many immunoassays by interfering with antibody binding, and how can this be mitigated?

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Multiple Choice

Which substance is known to cause false results in many immunoassays by interfering with antibody binding, and how can this be mitigated?

Biotin in high doses can disrupt immunoassays that use a biotin–streptavidin system to capture or detect the target. When a patient takes large amounts of biotin, it competes with the assay’s biotinylated components for streptavidin binding, which blocks proper antibody-antigen capture or signal development. The result is inaccurate measurements, often appearing falsely low in many sandwich immunoassays (and sometimes falsely high in other formats), depending on the assay design. Mitigation is straightforward: avoid high-dose biotin for a sufficient interval before testing (commonly about 48 hours, depending on dose), and use an alternative assay platform or method that does not rely on biotin–streptavidin interactions if testing is urgent.

Biotin in high doses can disrupt immunoassays that use a biotin–streptavidin system to capture or detect the target. When a patient takes large amounts of biotin, it competes with the assay’s biotinylated components for streptavidin binding, which blocks proper antibody-antigen capture or signal development. The result is inaccurate measurements, often appearing falsely low in many sandwich immunoassays (and sometimes falsely high in other formats), depending on the assay design.

Mitigation is straightforward: avoid high-dose biotin for a sufficient interval before testing (commonly about 48 hours, depending on dose), and use an alternative assay platform or method that does not rely on biotin–streptavidin interactions if testing is urgent.

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