Human Placental Lactogen (HPL) MICRO-ELISA Test Kit - 96 tests

Human placental lactogen (hPL or chorionic somatomammotropin) is a polypeptide produced during pregnancy by placental trophoblastic cells.1 The level of placental lactogen in maternal serum is directly related to placental function. 1 HPL is detected in the serum of pregnant women about six weeks after conception and its concentration increases gradually to peak levels of approximately 4 to 20 μg/ml by the end of the 34th week. 7-9 The hPL concentration in a normal pregnancy increases gradually (without decreases) until the 34th week where it remains stable for the remainder of the pregnancy. 1, 7-10 Consistently low levels throughout pregnancy or a sudden sharp drop in serial determinations are an indication of fetal distress. 10 After normal delivery the hPL concentration falls to an undetectable level rapidly. HPL is a polypeptide (molecular weight approximately 21,000 Da) which contains certain amino acid sequences similar to growth hormone and prolactin. However, its structure is distinct enough to produce the biological and immunological specificity of the protein. The MICRO-ELISA PLACENTAL LACTOGEN (hPL) utilizes two monoclonal antibodies to distinct determinates of hPL. The use of these antibodies allows the measurement of the concentration of placental lactogen and provides a system with high affinity to hPL and with virtually no cross reactivity with growth hormone or prolactin.