Monoclonal antibody mixtures and use thereof for enhanced sensitivity immunoassays
First Claim
1. An immunoassay for an antigen providing enhanced sensitivity which comprises contacting the antigen under suitable conditions with effective assaying amounts of each of at least two monoclonal antibodies which bind to different antigenic sites on the antigen and which are capable under appropriate conditions in a totally liquid phase of forming a stable complex which includes the antigen and all of the monoclonal antibodies, the monoclonal antibodies being further characterized in that they form a stable complex with the antigen when subjected to gel electrophoresis in the presence of the antigen and when subjected to gel filtration chromatography in the presence of the antigen, and detecting the complex which results from contacting the antigen with the monoclonal antibodies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mixtures of monoclonal antibodies which contain effective assaying amounts of each of at least two monoclonal antibodies that bind to different antigenic sites on the antigen and are capable under appropriate conditions of binding simultaneously to an antigen are useful in enhanced sensitivity assays for the antigen. By utilizing such mixtures in diagnostic assays for important antigens such as the polypeptide human chorionic gonadotropin enhanced sensitivity can be achieved as compared with assays employing individual monoclonal antibodies.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. An immunoassay for an antigen providing enhanced sensitivity which comprises contacting the antigen under suitable conditions with effective assaying amounts of each of at least two monoclonal antibodies which bind to different antigenic sites on the antigen and which are capable under appropriate conditions in a totally liquid phase of forming a stable complex which includes the antigen and all of the monoclonal antibodies, the monoclonal antibodies being further characterized in that they form a stable complex with the antigen when subjected to gel electrophoresis in the presence of the antigen and when subjected to gel filtration chromatography in the presence of the antigen, and detecting the complex which results from contacting the antigen with the monoclonal antibodies.
Specification