A monoclonal antibody to prednisone: use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for screening and characterization of antigenic determinants.

ELISA technology using immobilized steroid conjugates has allowed the rapid screening and characterization of hybridoma supernatants. Although cortisol-3CMO-BSA was the immunogen, a monoclonal antibody with exceptionally high cross-reactivity (greater than 1000%) to prednisone was obtained. Characterization of the antigenic determinants shows a requirement for overall glucocorticoid 21-hydroxyl and 17 alpha-hydroxyl groups with additional high specificity for the 1,2-double bond and 11-position. There is potential use for this antibody in the assay of prednisone.