Robert Llewellyn Clancy

Early pregnancy factor as a monitor for fertilization in women wearing intrauterine devices.

Measurement of early pregnancy factor (EPF) by the rosette inhibition test was performed on serum samples from 14 women using intrauterine devices (IUDs). Serial blood samples taken during the luteal phase of 23 cycles demonstrated in six of the cycles a transient appearance of EPF during the 6- to 8-day period following ovulation. In contrast, no EPF activity was found in sera obtained from women in whom fertilization was prevented, either by sexual abstinence or tubal ligation. These observations support the postulate that the IUD functions by the prevention of implantation of the fertilized ovum, rather than by preventing fertilization.

A modified C1q deviation radioimmunoassay for use in a routine clinical laboratory

Current clinical interest in circulating immune complexes defines a need to develop immune complex assays suitable for use in routine clinical immunology laboratories. We describe one such assay based on the principle of immune complexes binding to radiolabelled C1q, using commercially available IgG-coated latex particles for competitive binding. The assay is simple, rapid, cheap, reproducible and sensitive (5 micrograms/ml). Specificity for both antibody and antigen was demonstrated and clinical value was proven with defined clinical groups.