When a lab needs rabbit polyclonal antibody production to develop and validate assays, selecting the right antibody–mouse monoclonal or rabbit polyclonal–can dramatically shape the results. Each type of antibody has distinct strengths and limitations. We’ve outlined them in this article to help labs make data-driven decisions.
Polyclonal antibodies are a collection of immunoglobulins produced by multiple B-cell clones that have differentiated into antibody-producing plasma cells in response to an antigen. The resulting mixture of antibodies recognizes multiple epitopes, or adherence sites, on a target molecule. This results in stronger signal amplification in indirect immunoassays such as tissue staining workflows.
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Developing a high-titer polyclonal antibody requires several steps, including immunization, antibody purification, and screening for antibody titers. Typically, the antigen is introduced to laboratory animals like rabbits and goats, which offer robust immune reactivity and large volume immune sera. The animals are repeatedly bled for antibody production, and titers are measured to establish an initial screening assay. The antiserum is then subjected to additional rounds of bleeds and affinity purification to isolate specific antibodies against the target antigen.
A rabbit polyclonal antibody development project typically begins with immunizing between 2 and 10 New Zealand White rabbits with the selected antigen. This continues until the desired antibody titer is achieved as measured by indirect ELISA. During this process, strict animal husbandry and antigen administration protocols are critical to minimize animal stress and mortality. When required, GMA also offers goat polyclonal antibody production for projects where rabbits don’t deliver enough antiserum to meet the project goals.
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