Isolation of cells secreting specific polypeptides.

Antibody coupled erythrocytes in an agar overlay were used as a simple, nontoxic technique for the isolation of cell clones secreting proteins and hormones in vitro. The adaptation of the reverse hemolytic plaque assay was developed to provide a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for the screening of any antigen secreting cell without the need of prior isolation. This technique promises to be of use in the characterization and cloning of cells growing in mixed culture.