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Cross-Reactivity

Meaning

Cross-Reactivity, in the context of hormonal assays and diagnostics, describes the phenomenon where an antibody or receptor designed to bind to a specific target hormone also binds to other structurally similar compounds. This lack of absolute specificity can lead to falsely elevated or inaccurate measurements of the target hormone in laboratory tests, complicating clinical interpretation of the patient’s true endocrine status. Clinicians must be aware of potential cross-reactants, such as certain metabolites or exogenous steroids, when evaluating hormone panel results.