uses of monoclonal antibodies

• Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of one type of antibody.
• Monoclonal antibodies are used in infection and response.
• Monoclonal antibodies are used in pregnancy test kits.
• Pregnancy test kits use monoclonal antibodies to detect the presence of HCG, a hormone produced only in the urine of pregnant women.
• Monoclonal antibodies are attached to the end of a pregnancy test stick onto which a woman urinates.
• If a woman is pregnant, HCG will be present in her urine and will bind to the monoclonal antibodies on the test stick.
• The binding of HCG to the monoclonal antibodies on the test stick will cause a change in colour or pattern which will indicate pregnancy.
• Cells have antigens which can trigger an immune response.
• Some monoclonal antibodies have been attached to dyes that will glow fluorescent when a chemical absorbs ultraviolet light and releases it as visible light under UV light.
• When injected into a person's body, the monoclonal antibodies will bind with these cancer cells and clump them together, making it easier to identify a cancerous tumour.
• Monoclonal antibodies can be designed to bind specifically with these antigens.
• The uncontrolled growth of cells causes a lump called a tumour to form.
• Monoclonal antibodies have also been designed to treat cancer by carrying drugs that have been attached to them to the tumour.
• Monoclonal antibodies are also used in a similar way to identify and diagnose infections, such as HIV, herpes and chlamydia.
• This can make disease identification much easier.
• Pregnancy test kits are devices which indicate if a woman is pregnant by using monoclonal antibodies which bind with the hormone HCG.
• Monoclonal antibodies used in pregnancy test kits will only bind with HCG.