Automated high-performance immunosorbent assay for recombinant leukocyte A interferon.

A rapid assay for recombinant leukocyte A interferon has been developed that includes a small immunosorbent column (Amicon glass column ca. 10 X 6 mm; i.e., ca. 0.5 ml), containing monoclonal antibody, immobilized on Nugel-polyhydroxy phase silica, 500 A, 200-400 mesh (Diagnostic Specialties, Metuchen, NJ, U.S.A.). The column has been automated so that the operator need only inject sample (0.25 ml) every 18 min (or one can use an automatic sample injector) and initiate the program cycle of the microprocessor. A hard-copy result from an integrator is available in less than 20 min. Routine analyses were performed at a flow-rate of 4 ml/min in the concentration range 0.02-0.3 mg/ml. Reproducibility of the assay was checked by assaying the same crude extract seven times in succession. Standard deviation was 3.96% and correlation coefficient was 0.9996. The advantages of this technique include rapid analysis time and relative simplicity, compared to the enzyme immunoassay.