Diagnosis
Monoclonal Antibodies
The technique of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) becomes an increasingly important tool for diagnosing diseases.
Besides pregnancy testing and cancer screening, medical uses of Mabs are also applied in the diagnosis of hepatitis B, cystic fibrosis and sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS.
Advantages of Monoclonal Antibody as Diagnostic Tool
1. Rapid testing
2. High sensitivity
3. Less material needed to be taken from patients
4. Involvement of inexpensive equipment
ELISA Test - A Common Method used in Monoclonal Antibody
ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
In an ELISA test, a microwell is precoated with an antibody.
The sample to be tested is then added and any antigen may attach to the precoated antibody.
A second antibody, labelled with an enzyme, is then added. It will be specifically immobilised to antigen, which has bounded to the antibody, in the well.
Unbound reactants are then washed away and a colourless enzyme substrate is added. Colour develops as the enzyme acts on the substrate.
The colour intensity is measured with a photometer. The higher the intensity, the higher the antigen content is in the sample.
Cancer screening
Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) have been extensively and successfully employed in cancer diagnosis.
Procedure of Cancer diagnosis
1. Construct Mabs specific for tumour-associated antigens (TAAs).
2. Collect blood samples from patients.
3. Carry out the ELISA test.
4. Analysis of the results.
Cancer diagnosis by ELISA Test
Hepatitis B (HB) Screening
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) is present in serum during the acute infections and persists in chronic infections. It can be detected by monoclonal antibodies approach.
Procedure of HB Screening
1. Construct Mabs specific for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)
2. Collect blood samples from patients.
3. Carry out the ELISA test.
4. Analysis of the results.
Hepatitis B Diagnosis by ELISA Test
Reference
http://www.testmed.com/
Copyright(c)2002 HKIEd. All Rights Reserved.
請採用 Internet Explorer 4.0 或 Netscape Navigator 4.0 或以上瀏覽器，並以800x600解析度瀏覽。
