A method of membrane preparation for immunoassay.

Membranes prepared from a variety of solid tissues were used as solid-phase antigens for ELISA or RIA after fixation onto polylysine-primed 96-well plates. The preservation of antigens in these membrane preparations was tested by reactivity in ELISA using 2 monoclonal antibodies: W6/32, which recognizes an HLA framework antigen (a protein antigen) and anti-SSEA-1, directed to a carbohydrate antigen carried on glycoproteins. Levels of antigen deposition and usefulness as solid-phase antigens were assessed for ELISA as compared to RIA. Coated plates may be frozen for many months with preservation of antigenic activity. This method is relatively simple, rapid, and is useful for preparation of tissue antigens for immunoassay, especially for screening monoclonal antibodies.