Endocrine Research¶
This section documents the research behind Migibio's endocrine assays — thyroid function (T4/TSH), cortisol, progesterone, and relaxin — and their validation for quantitative POCT.
Endocrine testing is where quantitative POCT delivers the clearest clinical value: hormones require a number and often a timed one, which is exactly what instrument-read FICT provides.
Hormone Assay Overview¶
| Hormone | System | Clinical Use | Timing Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| T4 (total thyroxine) | Thyroid | Hypothyroidism (canine), hyperthyroidism (feline) | Baseline measurement |
| TSH (canine) | Thyroid | Distinguish primary hypothyroidism | Paired with T4 |
| Cortisol | Adrenal | Cushing's (hyperadrenocorticism), Addison's | ACTH-stim / suppression timing |
| Progesterone | Reproductive | Ovulation timing, breeding management | Serial measurement critical |
| Relaxin | Reproductive | Pregnancy confirmation | From ~day 20–30 post-ovulation |
Why Quantitative POCT Transforms Endocrine Testing¶
Two properties make FICT especially valuable for endocrine work:
- Numerical results — hormone interpretation is threshold- and trend-based. "High" or "low" is not enough; you need a concentration.
- Same-visit turnaround — tests like progesterone for ovulation timing require serial measurements across days. A same-day result lets the clinician act in the same cycle rather than waiting for send-out lab results.
Clinical Context¶
- Progesterone ovulation timing is the flagship POCT endocrine application: serial quantitative progesterone lets breeders time mating or AI precisely. See the Data Hub reference ranges for the ovulation threshold.
- Cortisol supports ACTH-stimulation and low-dose dexamethasone suppression protocols for Cushing's diagnosis and monitoring.
- Relaxin offers early pregnancy confirmation independent of palpation or ultrasound timing.
Validation¶
Each endocrine assay is validated for analytical performance (LOD, CV%, linearity) and clinical correlation, documented in Endocrine Assay Validation.
FAQ¶
Can POCT match lab accuracy for hormones? For the hormones in the Migibio menu, FICT achieves quantitative results with correlation to reference methods (r > 0.95), with the added benefit of same-visit turnaround.
Why is serial progesterone measurement important? A single progesterone value cannot pinpoint ovulation — the trend across days identifies the pre-ovulatory rise (typically 2–3 ng/ml) and the post-ovulation surge (5–8 ng/ml or higher).
Which sample types are accepted? Serum and plasma (assay-dependent). See each assay's IFU for the specific accepted matrix.
For the mechanism and validation, see FICT Technology and Analytical Performance.
Authored by: Migibio Clinical & Scientific Affairs, Guangzhou Magic Biotech Co., Ltd.
Reviewed by: Migibio R&D Quality Committee
Last updated: 2026-08-13
Disclosure: Migibio (Guangzhou Magic Biotech Co., Ltd.) is the manufacturer of the FIA680/FIA880 analyzers and FICT reagents referenced in this content. See our Editorial & Review Policy.