Assay Principle:

The DetectX® Testosterone ELISA Kit accurately measures testosterone levels in extracted serum, extracted plasma, fecal extracts, urine, and tissue culture media. This competitive ELISA, with a run time of 2.5 hours, provides an efficient and reliable method for testosterone assessment. For optimal assay performance, read the complete kit insert thoroughly before beginning the assay. The kit includes a Testosterone standard for establishing an accurate standard curve.

Protocol Summary:

• Introduce standards or diluted samples into the provided transparent microtiter plate coated with goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody.
• Add Testosterone peroxidase conjugate and Testosterone polyclonal rabbit antibody to start the immunological reaction.
• Incubate the mixture covered at room temperature, with shaking, for 2 hours. The reaction inversely correlates with testosterone concentration in the sample.
• After incubation, wash away excess conjugate and add the TMB substrate. The substrate reacts with the bound conjugate to produce a measurable signal.
• Use a plate reader to detect the signal at 450nm. Calculate the testosterone concentration based on the standard curve.

Background:

Testosterone (4-Androsten-17β-ol-3-one) is a key anabolic steroid hormone from the androgen group, found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, with minor contributions from the adrenal glands.

As the principal male sex hormone, testosterone is crucial for the development of reproductive tissues like the testes and prostate. It also promotes secondary sexual characteristics, including increased muscle and bone mass, and the growth of body hair. Beyond its reproductive roles, testosterone significantly influences glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and the prevention of osteoporosis. Epidemiological studies suggest a direct correlation between plasma testosterone levels and insulin sensitivity, with low testosterone levels being associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This is notably evident in men undergoing androgen deprivation for prostate carcinoma treatment.

The DetectX® Testosterone ELISA Kit is an important tool for researchers and clinicians in endocrinology, reproductive health, and metabolic studies, offering accurate testosterone measurement in various biological samples.