Specific assays for cytokine production by T cells

Recent advances in understanding of cytokine function have indicated the need for more stringent cytokine assays, and have at the same time provided the information and tools necessary for establishing monospecific assays for a number of T cell-derived cytokines. Monoclonal antibodies are invaluable for improving the specificity of bioassays, both by removing unwanted activities, and in the most stringent assays, for confirming the identity of the cytokine detected. Several cytokines can also be directly measured by ELISA techniques using monoclonal antibodies.