| abstract |
A method of determining the amount of free IL-18 in a sample comprising detecting the specific binding of IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) to free IL-18 protein in the sample, including the steps of : a) contacting a sample suspected of containing free IL-18 with IL-18BP, which binds specifically to free IL-18, but not to IL-18 bound in a complex and functions as the scavenging molecule free IL-18; b) allowing IL-18BP to bind to free IL-18; c) detecting the binding of IL-18 to IL-18BP by using an immunoassay for detection and determining the amount of free IL-18 in the sample by using a linear standard curve, which is calculated for concentrations of IL-18 predefined within the range of 5 to 200 pg/ml. |