The following guidelines are recommended handling procedures, offered only to
assist the user in maximizing product integrity. Scripps Laboratories makes no claims regarding product
stability.
- Use either borosilicate glass or polypropylene containers. Do NOT use polystyrene or
polyethylene containers.
- For a stock solution, hormones should be reconstituted to greater than or equal to 1 mg/ml in
the presence of a protease-free carrier (0.1% to 1% ovalbumin, BSA, or gelatin) and a suitable antimicrobial agent.
The following general guidelines may be useful:
- Ovalbumin is generally used when assaying for gonadotropin;
- If BSA is used, it must be free of gonadotropin (either crystalline or RIA grade is generally
satisfactory);
- Heat gelatin solutions to 60°C for maximum solubility (1% gelatin for ELISA's, 0.1% for solid phase assay);
- 10mM to 50mM HEPES, pH 7.0-7.4 or 10mM Phosphate, pH 7.2 - 7.4 is generally satisfactory.
- Equilibrate the hormone to ambient room temperature before attempting to resuspend. After resuspending with
buffer, allow to sit for at least 30 minutes at 2°C to 8°C to ensure complete solubilization.
- Avoid re-lyophilization since all hormones can lose significant activity. If material is re-lyophilized
it should be assayed again prior to use.
- Do NOT freeze-thaw reconstituted samples repeatedly. The reconstituted hormone should be subdivided
into working aliquots and stored below -10°C as soon as possible after resuspension.
- Reconstituted samples are normally stable for at least 2 to 6 months when stored frozen, however, this depends
upon the hormone concentration, buffer/stock solution composition, and handling conditions.
