ABSTRACT
When intact cells are used for immunization, resulting MAbs will be directed against almost any surface antigen. Depending on the field of interest of the scientist, only some MAbs and hence some hybridomas will be selected for further study. Therefore, a good strategy comprises at least two steps of selection. First, all supernatants of culture wells where clonal growth is observed are screened for reactivity with the target cell. In a second step, the wells containing a MAb directed against a target cell antigen are screened for reactivity with a frequent and undesirable cross-reacting cell type. Exclusion of hybrids whose MAbs exhibit undesirable cross-reactions is especially important when the target cell bears strong immunodominant antigens, as for example X-hapten (CD 15) or CD24 antigens on lung cancer cells, HLA-A, -B on lymphocytes and platelets, and HLA-DR on B cells.
