Nature 290, 501 - 503 (09 April 1981); doi:10.1038/290501a0

Immunoradiometric assay of human leukocyte interferon using monoclonal antibody

D. S. Secher

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QH, UK

Interferon research has been hampered by problems in its assay. The only widespread assays use tissue culture cells and compare some parameter of viral growth (such as viral RNA synthesis or host cell death) in the presence and absence of interferon¹. These complex biological assays, though sensitive, are laborious and subject to inherent variability. In particular, components other than interferon present in the assay sample often influence viral growth. There is clearly a need for a simple, direct, interferon assay; I now describe such an assay—an immunoradiometric assay utilizing monoclonal antibody.

References

1.	Pinter, N. B. in Interferons and Interferon Inducers (ed. Pinter, N. B.) 135−170 (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1973).
2.	Secher, D. S. & Burke, D. C. Nature 285, 446−450 (1980). | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
3.	Miles, L. E. M. & Hales, C. N. Nature 219, 186−189 (1968). | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
4.	Mogensen, K. E., Pyhälä, L. & Cantell, K. Acta path. microbiol. scand. B83, 443−450 (1975). | ISI | ChemPort |
5.	Morser, J., Meager, A., Burke, C. & Secher, D. S. J. gen. Virol. (in the press).