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Understanding Radioimmunoassay: A Precision Tool in Modern Diagnostics
Radioimmunoassay (RIA) is a highly sensitive laboratory technique used to measure minute concentrations of biological molecules, such as hormones, drugs, and proteins, in the body. Developed in the 1960s, RIA revolutionized clinical diagnostics by providing a method to quantify substances that were previously undetectable due to their extremely low levels. Its combination of specificity and sensitivity has made it an indispensable tool in endocrinology, pharmacology, and medical research.
At its core, RIA is based on the principle of antigen-antibody interaction. A known amount of a radioactively labeled antigen competes with the unlabeled antigen in the sample for binding sites on a specific antibody. The radioactivity of the bound antigen is then measured, and by comparing it to a standard curve, the exact concentration of the unknown sample can be determined. This competitive binding principle allows RIA to detect molecules at concentrations as…