The standardization of a 'spot-test' ELISA for the rapid screening of sera and hybridoma cell products I. The determination of the optimum buffering system.

Using the different commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plates, several sources of albumin were tested along with Tween 20 as supplements to the diluting buffer in ELISA for their ability to minimize non-specific reactions. There was an obligate requirement for Tween 20 (0.05%) but the different albumin sources had varied effectiveness on each of the different ELISA plates. In general, however, the optimum buffering system was concluded to be phosphate-buffered saline supplemented with 0.05% (v/v) Tween 20 and 3% (w/v) lactalbumin yeast hydrolysate or bovine serum (plasma) albumin fraction V.