Monoclonal Hybridoma Antibodies against Human IgE and Their Use in a Rapid and Sensitive Enzyme Immunoassay for the Semiquantitative Assessment of Total IgE Levels in Human Blood

Abstract

A simple semiquantitative enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the rapid estimation of IgE levels in the specimens of human blood, plasma or serum is described. The test requires little labor input and does not require highly trained personnel or instrumentation. By using 2 [mouse] monoclonal antibodies of different anti-IgE specificities it is possible, with a single incubation of 20 min, at ambient temperature, to detect elevated IgE levels (.gtoreq. 333 IU/ml) within a total test time of 25 min, and low levels of IgE (.ltoreq. 10 IU/ml) within 35 min. For diagnosis of elevated/normal IgE levels only, a single incubation of 10 min at ambient temperature may be used with a total test time of < 20 min. The EIA system utilizes glass capillary tubes and urease-labeled antibodies, a system that has proven satisfactory in other applications.