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For biologists and medical researchers, antibodies are one of the most important tools used for research. While our bodies produce these proteins naturally, most of the antibodies used for research are custom monoclonal antibodies or custom polyclonal antibodies created in a laboratory by a biotechnology firm.
Of course, while this custom antibody service is helpful and important, there is a problem that needs to be addressed. There are actually no universal guidelines that set forth a way to assure the validation of these antibodies. This basically means that the antibodies created by one biotech firm could be vastly different than the antibodies produced by another biotech firm. So if you are a researcher and you want to ensure valid results of your study, you need to also ensure that these reagents are the specific antibodies you want and also are selective and reproducible.
To add to what has been cited, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines may go through several studies conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but there appears to be no federal guidelines in order to validate these antibodies where no government agency is actually enforcing some kind of standard to follow. Again, this leaves scientists and researchers with the duty to become very selective on their source for these antibodies and also with the task that they should conduct personal validation for these antibodies for higher chance of reliability.
For testing methods in determining antibody validity one which researches may use is the Rimm Lab Algorithm. This method makes use of a protein immunoblot analysis or a Western blot for validation. Several steps are included in materializing the process by which the antibody may be determined whether or not indeed it comes from a reliable source. For its first part, antibody specificity is determined and what follows is the use of tissue microarray.
Because these studies involving antibodies have such far-reaching possibilities in terms of their effect on mankind, it is essential that scientists find a reputable source for these custom monoclonal and custom polyclonal antibodies. The biotech firm that you select should have a proven protocol in place for determining the validation of these antibodies.
Testing the quality of the antibody by biotech firms is one good example and this they can do through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or known as ELISA. Biotech companies may require a complete quality-control check which makes this only a portion of it. As for the establishment of antibody specificity, firms can use pre-immune sera. Note that firms which are sources for your antibodies need to be with proven works but even so, you should still do the labs test yourself and Rimm Lab algorithm could be your best solution.
Of course, while this custom antibody service is helpful and important, there is a problem that needs to be addressed. There are actually no universal guidelines that set forth a way to assure the validation of these antibodies. This basically means that the antibodies created by one biotech firm could be vastly different than the antibodies produced by another biotech firm. So if you are a researcher and you want to ensure valid results of your study, you need to also ensure that these reagents are the specific antibodies you want and also are selective and reproducible.
To add to what has been cited, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines may go through several studies conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but there appears to be no federal guidelines in order to validate these antibodies where no government agency is actually enforcing some kind of standard to follow. Again, this leaves scientists and researchers with the duty to become very selective on their source for these antibodies and also with the task that they should conduct personal validation for these antibodies for higher chance of reliability.
For testing methods in determining antibody validity one which researches may use is the Rimm Lab Algorithm. This method makes use of a protein immunoblot analysis or a Western blot for validation. Several steps are included in materializing the process by which the antibody may be determined whether or not indeed it comes from a reliable source. For its first part, antibody specificity is determined and what follows is the use of tissue microarray.
Because these studies involving antibodies have such far-reaching possibilities in terms of their effect on mankind, it is essential that scientists find a reputable source for these custom monoclonal and custom polyclonal antibodies. The biotech firm that you select should have a proven protocol in place for determining the validation of these antibodies.
Testing the quality of the antibody by biotech firms is one good example and this they can do through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or known as ELISA. Biotech companies may require a complete quality-control check which makes this only a portion of it. As for the establishment of antibody specificity, firms can use pre-immune sera. Note that firms which are sources for your antibodies need to be with proven works but even so, you should still do the labs test yourself and Rimm Lab algorithm could be your best solution.
About the Author:
Armand Zeiders enjoys blogging about biomedical research. For additional details about custom antibodies production and other biotech services, please visit the PrimmBiotech.com website today.
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