Antibodies serum storage

The decomplemented serum is now ready for either storage or further purification. Antibodies are quite stable and may be stored for many years frozen (- 20 to - 70°C) or lyophilized. Storage at 4°C requires addition of an... 

Antisera to be used in HA must be free of bacterial contamination and other foreign matter. It is also important that harvesting of the sera from the blood clot be postponed until the clotting is complete, since residual fibrin or fibrinogen can seriously interfere in HA. The use of preservatives, such as 0.01% sodium azide, is recommended, as is storage of aliquots of the sera at - 20°. Prior to this, sera should be heated at 56° for 30 min, and antibodies reactive with the erythrocytes to be used should be removed by three successive absorptions with washed, packed red cells. Generally 3 x 1 volume of packed cells for 9 volumes of serum with 30 min incubation at room temperature should suffice. Diluted antisera should not be stored because deterioration of HA activity may occur. 

Contaminants in mAbs depend largely on the method used to amplify the amount of Ig and the purification methods. These include non-antibody substances such as serum proteins, proteases, lipids, endotoxins, nucleic acids, and viruses. The actual purity of mAb depends on the ultimate use, and 95% is suitable for most assays. The purification procedure should be made as soon as possible. When this is not possible, mAb preparations can be stored. Table 15 gives some conditions for storage. 

Staining Applications Avidin bovine serum albumin bacteria cardiac fibers cells cell surface glycoconjugates cholesterol phospholipids exocy-totic secretory processes gangliosides glycoprotein islet cells liposomes mitochondria neu-rons oxidized antibody plant cell protoplasts potato tuber storage tissues proteins reti-na 22-24 saccharides skeletal muscle cells skin tissues plant vacuoles " ... 

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