Disclosed is a screening method for detecting cells producing binding agents, including Monoclonal Antibodies, which bind to particular antigens on cells or organisms such that, when the binding agents are bound to said antigens, a nanoshell or metal colloid coupled to the binding agents is capable, upon illumination with a laser or other light source, of killing the cells or organisms. Samples of binding agent-producing cells, which have been subject to limiting dilution so that there is about one cell per well, are placed into the wells of a microtiter plate. Cells or organisms to be killed are added to the wells, as are nanoshells or metal colloids which are treated in a manner appropriate to permit coupling to the binding agents. The wells are illuminated with a light source capable of heating the nanoshells or metal colloids, and the wells containing killed cells or organisms are detected.
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