Process for liberating an analyte from its binding protein

Abstract

A process for the dissolving off of an analyte bound to a binding protein by breakdown of the binding protein using a cleaving agent which cleaves --S--S-- groups into SH groups in the alkaline range, wherein a 1,2-dithiolan-3-carboxylic acid of the formula: ##STR1## is used as the --S--S-- group cleaving agent in which n is a whole number of from 1 to 8. The process is used for preparing samples for analytical or investigational processes for the determination of a liberated analyte and especially for immunoassays for vitamins such as vitamin B.sub.12, steroids such as testosterone or for thyroid hormones such as T.sub.3 /T.sub.4.

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