An express immunological method for detection of human seminal plasma

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against human seminal plasma (HSP) were produced and during screening procedures dissociation constants of the antigen/antibody complexes were determined. Mab 1E5 was selected for further studies because of its high reactivity in an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and high affinity for its corresponding antigen. The specificity of Mab 1E5 was checked in absorption ELISA with human organ extracts and some biological secretions. It was established that the 1E5-corresponding epitope was a thermostable peptide moiety which could be detected in HSP, only. This monoclonal antibody was used for the development of an express method for detection of human semen. The assay was applied for screening of 57 cases of suspected rape. A complete correlation was found between the results obtained by the proposed test and by routine microscopic methods. The newly designed immunoassay is reliable, it is easily performed and it is less time-consuming.