Charcoal, Dextran Coated is made from acid washed charcoal powder and dextran, molecular weight 64-76kDa, combined in a 10:1 (w/w) ratio.

Charcoal, Dextran Coated has been used:

• as a supplement in cell culture media to test the functioning of androgen receptor
• in the procedure of melatonin radioimmunoassay
• for the preparation of steroid-free human serum
• to reduce the creatinine level in untreated serum.

The use of dextran-coated charcoal makes the immunoassay of insulin in biological fluids simpler and more rapid. In theory, the charcoal coated with dextran will adsorb the free hormone and leave hormones that are bound to a carrier (or antibody). Dextran coated charcoal is used to strip hormones from serum instead of charcoal alone, because there is less loss of protein using dextran coated charcoal.

Dry preparation of dextran-treated charcoal