A novel immunocytochemical model system for specificity and sensitivity screening of antisera against multiple antigens.

A novel, convenient immunocytochemical model system that allows simultaneous testing of multiple peptides and peptide fragments is presented. Screening of antisera for specificity and sensitivity and ready detection of multiple antibody subpopulations is possible with this system. Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, a threshold sensitivity of 100 pg of peptide was attained with the best antisera available. Routine screenings of antisera employ amounts of peptides corresponding to 1.8--180 pmol--concentrations about a thousandfold lower than those used for absorption controls. Because of the minute amounts of antigens needed, specificity screening against rare or costly antigens now becomes feasible.