Antibodies to calf serum as a cause of unwanted reaction in immunofluorescence tests.

One potentially important cause of disturbing staining of cell cultures used for immunofluorescence (IF) tests was found to be a specific reaction between calf serum and corresponding antibodies. A simple method utilizing polymerized calf serum as an immunosorbent was used for the removal of the antibodies causing the undesired reactions. One to three cycles of absorption with the calf serum immunosorbent were highly efficient in removing antibodies to calf serum, whereas the titer of a heterologous antiserum (anti-egg albumin) was only slightly affected by the same procedure. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for determination of the efficacy of the absorption method.