A simple method for estimating association constants between monoclonal antibodies and derivatized or native antigens

We describe a simple method for estimating the association constant between an antibody and an antigen, based on a theoretical treatment of experimental dose-response data. We used this method to calculate the association constants of an anti-progesterone monoclonal antibody for native progesterone and for progesterone 11 alpha-hemisuccinate. These association constants provide a quantitative measure of the bridging-group recognition by the antibody.