The purification of human chorionic gonadotropin on DEAE-Sephadex

Abstract A simple procedure for the purification of commercial human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex is described. The method is reproducible and suitable for application on a preparative scale. The HCG thus purified had a specific immunological activity of 11,000 I.U./mg and was homogeneous by immunoelectrophoresis. The overall recovery of immunological activity was 19%. A simple, specific quantitative assay for HCG employing the technique of immunodiffusion is described. The precision, accuracy, and advantages of the method are discussed.