Assay Principle: 

The DetectX® Aldosterone ELISA Kit quantitatively measures aldosterone in extracted serum, extracted plasma (EDTA and Heparin), urine, saliva, fecal extracts, and tissue culture media. This competitive ELISA has a run time of 2.5 hours. Please read the complete kit insert for more information before performing this assay. Use our provided aldosterone standard to generate a standard curve for the assay.

Protocol Summary:

• Introduce standards or diluted samples into the transparent microtiter plate provided, coated with donkey anti-sheep IgG antibody.
• Add aldosterone peroxidase conjugate and aldosterone polyclonal sheep antibody to initiate the immunological reaction.
• Incubate the mixture covered at room temperature with shaking for 2 hours. The reaction inversely correlates with the aldosterone concentration in the sample.
• After incubation, remove excess conjugate and add the TMB substrate. The substrate reacts with the bound conjugate, producing a colorimetric signal.
• Measure the signal intensity using a plate reader at 450nm and calculate aldosterone concentration using the standard curve.

Background:

Aldosterone, a key mineralocorticoid hormone, plays an important role in regulating electrolyte balance, particularly for sodium-potassium levels. It is synthesized in the adrenal cortex’s zona glomerulosa from cholesterol. Aldosterone secretion is primarily controlled by the renin-angiotensin system. Angiotensin II and potassium levels are notable stimulators of its production.

Aldosterone’s primary function includes regulating salt reabsorption in various tissues and glands, which is critical for maintaining blood pressure and fluid balance. The measurement of aldosterone is integral to diagnosing conditions such as primary and secondary aldosteronism, which encompass a range of disorders affecting vascular health, salt and potassium balance, and cardiac function. In clinical settings, assessing aldosterone levels assists in understanding conditions like cardiac failure with ascites, salt depletion, and pregnancy-related changes in mineralocorticoid balance.

The DetectX® Aldosterone ELISA Kit is an essential tool for endocrinologists and researchers, offering a sensitive and specific method to measure aldosterone in diverse biological samples, aiding in the diagnosis and study of adrenal and cardiovascular diseases.