The determination of hormone and protein levels in serum is an important

diagnostic tool for assessing endocrine and infection diseases. There are
several methods used to measure hormone and protein levels in serum,
including immunoassays, ELISAs, and Western blotting.

Immunoassays are commonly used to measure hormone levels in serum. In

this technique, an antibody that specifically binds to the hormone of
interest is labeled with a detectable marker, such as a fluorescent or
radioactive molecule. The antibody is added to the serum sample, and the
level of hormone is determined by the intensity of the marker signal.
Immunoassays can be used to measure a wide range of hormones,
including thyroid hormones, insulin, and cortisol.

ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) are a type of immunoassay

that uses an enzyme-linked antibody to detect the hormone or protein of
interest. In this technique, the serum sample is added to a plate that has
been coated with an antibody specific to the hormone or protein. A second
enzyme-linked antibody is then added, and the level of hormone or protein
is determined by the intensity of the enzyme reaction.

Western blotting is another method used to measure protein levels in

serum. In this technique, proteins in the serum sample are separated by
size using gel electrophoresis, and then transferred to a membrane. The
membrane is probed with an antibody specific to the protein of interest,
and the level of protein is determined by the intensity of the antibody
signal.

In summary, determining hormone and protein levels in serum is an

important diagnostic tool for assessing endocrine and infection diseases.
There are several methods available for measuring these levels, including
immunoassays, ELISAs, and Western blotting. The choice of method
depends on the specific hormone or protein of interest and the sensitivity
and specificity required for accurate diagnosis.