A unique ultrafiItration device to aid radfoimmunoassay sample preparation

摘要

To generate high quality antibodies against small molecules like drugs (MW <1000 Da), the immunised animals must be monitored closely, A blood sample is extracted from the host 36 days after immunisation to analyse the antibodies being produced, and this procedure is repeated every 14 days. Radioimmunoassays are frequently used to monitor and control the immunisation process. The host's antiseram is diluted (1:100, 1:250 and 1:500) and incubated with a radiotracer which reacts with the antibodies toform an antigen-antibody complex. To measure the radioactivity, and thus the formation of this complex, the unbound tracer must be removed. Usually the complex is precipitated with (NH_4)_2SO_4 or trichloroacetic acid, cen-trifuged, and the supernatent containing unbound tracer is discarded. The pellet containing the bound tracer is then used to determine the specificity of the bound antibody.