uses of monoclonal antibodies

• What are monoclonal antibodies used to diagnose?

  The most common use is to diagnose pregnancy. They are used in testing kits and cause a colour change if pregnancy hormones are present.
• What are monoclonal antibodies used for in labs?


  Measuring tiny levels of of hormones or other blood chemicals, or detecting pathogens is more easily done using monoclonal antibodies.
• What are monoclonal antibodies used for in research?


  Scientists have found ways of attaching fluorescent dye to monoclonal antibodies so that when they bind to particolar molecules in cells, the cell will fluoresce.
• Why might fluorescent binding be useful in the future?

  Operations to remove malignant cells is difficult as some of the cells may not be removed. If the cells were fluorescent then the surgeon could see all the tumour and remove it.
• What are monoclonal antibodies used to treat?

  Monoclonal antibodies can be bound to a radioactive substance, a toxic drug or a chemical that stops cells from dividing. The antibody can target specific cells and deliver the substance.
• Why is it useful to deliver a drug using monoclonal antibodies?


  The drug treatment can be targeted, and only specific cells will get the drug. If a cell does not have the antibody binding site it will not be affected or damaged.
• Why aren't monoclonal antibodies used more often?

  Monoclonal antibodies create more side effects than expected so they aren't used as widely as scientists first hoped.