Centrifugal system for affinity chromatography with eluate monitoring

A prototype centrifugal system has been developed that permits parallel photometric monitoring of eluate streams from a radial array of chromatographic columns. The modular rotor design consists of a discoidal center insert for eluent and sample apportionment, the chromatographic columns, and flow-through cuvetts-all mounted on an aluminum base plate. A common sample is introduced simultaneously to each column; a single eluent stream is used for all columns. The goal is to assay simultaneously for eight to 16 serum proteins separated by affinity chromatography from a single sample. The system is here exemplified by the use of immunosorbents (consisting of antibodies to human immunoglobulins covalently bound to alumina particles) to allow simultaneous determinations of IgG AND IgM from a single human serum sample in less than 16 min.