Monoclonal antibodies to human IgE: utilization for total IgE quantification and estimation of allergen specific IgE antibodies.

Spleen cells from Balb C mice immunized with purified Yu human myeloma IgE were fused with NS-1 mouse myeloma cells. After initial EIA screening for antibody-secreting cells, 20 hybrids were further characterized for cell growth, ascites production, antibody titer, specificity and affinity. Immunoglobulins purified from ascites fluid obtained from selected clones were labelled with beta-galactosidase. Combinations were made using either antibodies as capture and as conjugate against calibrated human IgE plasma samples. The combination of monoclonal anti IgE X b 10-22 as a capture antibody and X b 6-16 as a conjugate gave the best sensitivity and slope in EIA. It was successfully used in a sensitive two-step-enzyme-immunoassay for total IgE. The X b 6-16 conjugate was also assayed for the detection of allergen specific IgE antibodies. The results presented and discussed indicate that monoclonal antibodies could favourably substitute for polyclonal anti IgE antibodies in such assays.