Evaluation of a Methotrexate Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay:  Comparison to Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Abstract

For most laboratories, methotrexate (MTX) concentrations are routinely monitored by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). In anticipation of an announced withdrawal of the FPIA reagent on the Abbott TDxFLx (Abbott Diagnostics, Abbott Park, IL), we have evaluated a new reagent kit developed by Abbott on the Architect i1000, based on chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). Precision, inaccuracy, and selectivity were assessed. Interassay variability was established using 75 plasma patient samples treated with MTX and analyzed by two methods: FPIA and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS FOR MTX,: the intraday inaccuracy was between -6.37% and +3.52%, while interday performance was between -3.70% and 7.90%. Intraday and interday imprecision was less than 2.65% and less than 2.22%, respectively. The correlation coefficient between CMIA and FPIA or LC-MS/MS was 0.9969 and 0.9985, respectively. These results comparing CMIA vs FPIA and LC-MS/MS indicate that CMIA is a suitable alternative to the FPIA method.