|
|
| FREE SHIPPING for any order that exceeds $25!!! | ||
 |
| ||||||
The following is a brief description of the methodology involved in the ESTROVEN MENOPAUSE MONITOR.
The Estroven Menopause Monitor is an in vitro diagnostic device used to determine the presence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in urine. It is a semi–quantitative test designed such that a positive test indicates the presence of FSH at a concentration over 25U/L (units per liter). The device uses “flow–through technology” which simply means that the fluid carrying the substance to be measured flows with an indicator (conjugate) across a fixed membrane to a reaction site. A colour change at the reaction site indicates the presence of the substance being measured, in this case FSH. Although the technology can be used to determine the presence and quantity of innumerable biologic substances, the Estroven Menopause Monitor is specific for FSH.
FSH is a peptide (chain of amino acids) hormone produced in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. It is normally present in the blood varying in concentration with the stage of the menstrual cycle. It is filtered into the urine. In this test, an antibody, anti–FSH, detects the presence of FSH in the urine.
To understand the test it is essential to understand the basic concepts of antigens and antibodies and their reactions. An antigen is any substance that is “foreign” to an organism e.g. bacteria such as streptococcus or diphtheria and viruses such as hepatitis or HIV are foreign to humans. They are not part of our genetic makeup. When an antigen enters the body, the organism will defend against it by producing proteins called antibodies, which will bind specifically with that antigen and neutralize it. An antibody–antigen reaction is the specific binding of the antibody and antigen together resulting in an immune complex. This is best described as a lock and key interaction and is in fact just as specific.
In the Estroven Menopause Monitor, the antigen is human FSH present in the urine to be tested and the antibody is anti–FSH, which has been produced by injecting human FSH into an animal. The animal will recognize human FSH as foreign and produce anti–FSH e.g. goat anti–FSH.
The testing procedure is performed as follows. The urine sample (containing FSH) is placed in the drop zone where it permeates the conjugate / absorbent pad. It then moves by capillary action across the nitrocellulose membrane. At the “reaction area” the membrane has been coated with a thin strip of anti–FSH. As the urine passes over the antibody, the FSH reacts with the anti–FSH and is trapped.
As the test sample flows through the absorbent pad, the labeled antibody-gold conjugate binds to the FSH forming an antibody-antigen complex. This complex binds to the anti-FSH antibody in the test area (T) and produces a pink-purple colored band when the FSH concentration is greater than 25 mlU/ml. In the absence of FSH, there is no line in the test area. Unbound conjugate binds to the reagents in the control area (C), producing a pink-purple band, demonstrating that the reagents are functioning properly.
The test is a rapid qualitative one step assay for the detection of FSH in urine. The method employs a unique combination of polyoclonal antibody – colloidal gold conjugate and monoclonal-solid phase antibodies to selectively identify the FSH in the test samples with an extremely high degree of sensitivity.|
|
|
*
Same day and next day shipments are normally the case with the exception
of any out-of-stock items. |
|||||||||||
|
TMS Privacy Policy |
 |
 |
|
|
     |
  |
Test Medical Symptoms |
||||
 |
Family-Run Business Since 2001 |
Authorized CardioChek Dealer |
Better Business Bureau At Rating |
SSL Secured Checkout |
Payment Types Accepted |
Shipping & Tracking |
|||||
