Unconjugated Estriol and Freezing

[Andrew Wagner]

I am currently involved in a study called THE ASSESSMENT OF MATERNAL SERUM
MARKERS IN EARLY PREGNANCY.  We are looking at the triple screen, a
prenatal diagnosis test that gives risk factors for aneuploidies and neural
tube defects by looking at maternal serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein
(msAFP), beta human chorionic gonadotropin (BhCG), and unconjugated estriol
(uE3).

One of the possible problems with keeping serum samples is that
*supposedly* uE3 levels can change (I have heard it increased) after being
frozen and thawed repeatedly.  I would like to do a side study seeing the
possible changes in uE3 levels after freezing and thawing serum samples.

Can anyone tell me where I could find information (biochemical, general
OB/GYN, etc.) on uncongujated estriol with the freezing effects. 
Supposedly, there is/are paper(s) on this subject already, but my previous
searhces have come up nil.

If you know where I could look or if you have a bibliography of these
papers, and if you could tell me, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Andrew Wagner
Research Assistant, Div. Mat/Fet Medicine


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      Perinatal Medicine...Saxophone...and whatever else interests me

                          From the e-mail desk of:
      Andrew F. Wagner                University of Wisconsin-Madison
      afwagner at students.wisc.edu

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very reassuring."     --Thomas Magnum, "Magnum, P.I."
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