Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Generation of Murine Monoclonal Antibodies by Hybridoma Technology
Published on: January 2, 2017
Production of polyclonal antisera
Helen M Cooper1, Yvonne Paterson2
1Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne, Australia.
Although the advances offered by the development of monoclonal antibody techniques have revolutionized the specificity, uniformity, and quantity of antibodies, there remain many circumstances in which polyclonal antibodies are more desirable than monoclonal antibodies. Production of polyclonal antisera takes less time and effort than production of monoclonal antibodies, requires relatively simple and readily available equipment, and produces reagents that can be used for immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The Basic Protocol and Alternate Protocol in this unit describe the production of polyclonal antisera specific for protein antigens in rabbits, rats, mice, and hamsters. The Support Protocol presents a method for preparing serum from blood.
Although the advances offered by the development of monoclonal antibody techniques have revolutionized the specificity, uniformity, and quantity of antibodies, there remain many circumstances in which polyclonal antibodies are more desirable than monoclonal antibodies. Production of polyclonal antisera takes less time and effort than production of monoclonal antibodies, requires relatively simple and readily available equipment, and produces reagents that can be used for immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The Basic Protocol and Alternate Protocol in this unit describe the production of polyclonal antisera specific for protein antigens in rabbits, rats, mice, and hamsters. The Support Protocol presents a method for preparing serum from blood.
Related Concept Videos
Hybridoma Technology
Hybridoma Selection
Commonly used fusion techniques — electroporation, polyethylene glycol...
Antibody Structure
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
Immunoprecipitation
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
Chromatin immunoprecipitation, also known as ChIP, is used to study protein-DNA or...

