[Monoclonal antibodies: Comparative methods for in vitro production]

The growth of antibody producing hybridoma in the abdominal cavity of the mouse with subsequent harvesting of the ascites fluid is a simple method for the production of monoclonal antibodies. However, due to the massive painful stress of the animal, this method is no longer tolerated by the legislator. In search of alternative methods the scientist has the choice between different techniques: Static tissue culture, spin- or roller-cultures as well as the production in bioreactors (automated cell culture devices). The presented work investigates the different methods and describes their applicability in a research lab. The results clearly show that for any desired amount of antibodies a production technique is available which allows the omission of the use of the "ascites-mouse".