text: T4 - Performance: T4 (Thyroxine), Total Only, Serum
  Testing is performed on a Roche cobas instrument. The Roche thyroxine assay (T4) is a competitive assay using electrochemiluminescence detection. Bound T4 is released from binding proteins by 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS). Patient specimen is incubated with sheep polyclonal anti-T4 antibody labeled with ruthenium. Streptavidin-coated microparticles and biotinylated T4 are added for a second incubation during which the still free binding sites of the labeled antibody become occupied. The resulting immunocomplex becomes bound to the solid phase by interaction of biotin and streptavidin. The reaction mixture is aspirated into the measuring cell where the microparticles are magnetically captured onto the surface of the electrode. Unbound substances are then removed and application of a voltage to the electrode induces the electrochemiluminescent emission. This signal is measured against a calibration curve to determine patient results.(Package insert: Roche Cobas. Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN)