Immunoassay design and biotin interference.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review describing biochemical mechanisms and assay formats without original clinical trial data.
PubMed 35953126 · doi:10.1016/bs.acc.2022.03.005
What was done
This narrative review examined the biochemical functions of biotin and analyzed the analytical mechanisms through which supplemental biotin interferes with biotinylated antibody-based clinical immunoassays.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative clinical data or sample sizes. Mechanistically, elevated concentrations of biotin in serum or plasma produce positive interference (falsely high results) in competitive immunoassay designs and negative interference (falsely low results) in sandwich immunoassay formats. This mechanism frequently generates false-positive laboratory patterns of hyperthyroidism through falsely elevated free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) alongside falsely depressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
Why it matters
Widespread consumer use of supplemental biotin can cause clinically misleading lab results, risking misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment across multiple endocrine and diagnostic panels.
Limits
The abstract presents a narrative and mechanistic overview without providing original clinical data, sample size, quantitative interference cutoffs, or comparisons between specific commercial assay platforms.
Cited by
- context Biotin supplements can interfere with laboratory hormone immunoassay testing.