In Reply

[摘要] We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the comments on our recent publication on a screening method to evaluate human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)1 devices for susceptibility to the hook effect by hCGβ core fragment (hCGβcf) (1).The authors point out that the quantitative data shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of our paper, regarding the Clinitest hCG device, were obtained by visual reading and that ( a ) the Clinitest hCG product does not have a visual claim and ( b ) the cartridges were read 24 h after performing the test.First, we are certainly not suggesting that clinical users read the Clinitest hCG test visually; clearly this is not advisable.Second, when used according to the manufacturer's instructions, the Clinitek status analyzer interpreted the devices that contained 500 pmol/L intact hCG and 500 000 pmol/L hCGβcf as negative and borderline (Fig. 2 legend). Therefore, our interpretation that the Clinitest hCG device demonstrates a hook effect due to hCGβcf is not due to misinterpretation caused by …

[学科分类] 过敏症与临床免疫学