Value of monoclonal antibody-based assays: advantages and drawbacks.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to allergens are highly specific tools in allergen standardization and quantification. Their mono-specificity allows sensitive detection of individual allergens. It is the same quality that asks for caution. MAbs can be too specific: isoforms of allergens can be missed. On the other hand, mono-specific antibodies can also be crossreactive, possibly resulting in overestimation of allergen content. Lower affinity of mAbs compared to IgE may lead to underestimation of the IgE-binding capacity of an allergen extract. For application of mAbs these potential pitfalls should be taken into consideration.