Radioimmunoassays for the developing countries

Radioimmunoassay (RIA) is used in thousands of laboratories around the world to measure hundreds of substances of biological interest. RIA was a serendipitous discovery in that it was developed as a consequence of the recognition that all insulin treated diabetics develop insulin binding antibodies and that the methodology for quantification of antibody could be used reciprocally for quantification of antigen. In the 1960s RIA was employed primarily in endocrinology because its exquisite sensitivity and specificity were required for the measurement of peptide hormones in biological fluids. However, over the past 15 years it has been increasingly employed in the measurement of non-peptidal hormones and drugs and for the detection of viruses, bacterial antigens and other infectious agents. In the application of RIA to developing countries it must be appreciated the small, rich countries differ from large, poor countries and that that needs for equipment, training and sources of radionuclides and other biochemicals, and even medical problems differ among such diverse nations. The question to be addressed is how to optimize RIA according to the needs of the individual state. (author)