An enzyme immunofiltration assay useful for detecting human monoclonal antibody.

A microenzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) utilizing an immunofiltration manifold has been developed which provides a rapid, simple, and sensitive method of detecting human monoclonal antibody class, concentration, and specificity. In this assay either whole cells or soluble antigens were immobilized on glass fiber filters followed by incubating with the test human hybridoma supernatant with subsequent analysis by EIA. A specially designed 96-chamber immunofiltration plate is employed which serves as both an incubation chamber and as a filtration manifold. The assay described is unique in that small volumes of human hybridoma supernatant are required, crude preparation of only a few target cells are needed, labile cell surface antigens are preserved and it can be completed in 3 h. This assay is well suited for the rapid screening of large numbers of human hybridoma supernatants.