The use of conventional antisera in the production of specific monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for human alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), a plasma glycoprotein, have been produced using a novel immunization method. Commercially available antisera to human alpha 2M was used to precipitate the antigen from whole serum. Immunization of animals with this immunoprecipitate resulted in the production of hybridomas with a specificity for human alpha-2-macroglobulin as confirmed by immunoprecipitation.