RIECA: an innovative immuno enzymatic competition assay for apolipoproteins AI and B determination.

The authors describe the production, via recombinant DNA technology, of bifunctional polypeptides for immunoenzymatic assays. These molecules contain an apolipoprotein moiety fused to an active beta-galactosidase enzyme, and are used as tracers in competition assays with specific monoclonal antibodies. The final colorimetric result is inversely correlated with the apolipoproteins plasma values. This technology, named RIECA (Recombinant Immunoenzymatic Competition Assay) is very accurate and flexible and may be applied to a wide range of diagnostic interest.