Assay systems and specialized antibodies for the detection and quantitation of
troponin I and
troponin T in body fluids as an indicator of
myocardial infarction. Since
troponin I and T exist in various conformations in the blood, the ratios of the monomeric
troponin I an T and the binary and ternary complexes, as well as which form of troponin present in the blood, may be related to the
metabolic state of the heart. Disclosed is a
system to determine the presence of a troponin form or a group of troponin forms in a sample of
whole blood, serum or
plasma.Disclosed is a stabilized composition of troponin; the stabilized composition can comprise a stabilized composition of
troponin I, wherein the
troponin I is oxidized, the troponin I can be unbound or the troponin I can be in a complex.Disclosed is a method for improving the
recovery of troponin I or T from a surface used in immunoassays.Also disclosed are antibodies which recognize, unbound troponin forms, the forms of troponin in binary complexes, the
ternary complex of troponin I, T and C, and the conformations of troponin I having intramolecularly oxidized and reduced cysteines.