The use of immunoabsorbents for the purification of mycobacterial antigens.

Affinity chromatography using immunoabsorbents prepared from goat antisera has been applied to the purificaton of antigens from culture filtrates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The optimum conditions for the preparation and use of these immunoabsorbents have been determined. Urea has been studied as an eluant, and it has been found that antigen can be eluted with 4M urea at pH 9 with satisfactory yields, minimal loss of antigenicity, and minimal disruption of the immunoabsorbent.