Total Cytokine Immunoassay: A More Accurate Method of Cytokine Measurement?

Abstract

Cytokine measurements in peripheral blood in trauma patients and normal controls are significantly (10- to 500-fold) higher when using a total cytokine assay that measures both free and bound cytokine. Competitive immunoassays may be the method of choice when measuring endogenous cytokine levels in biologic fluids, and new normal ranges for cytokines must be established for future accurate research in critical care and trauma.