Large-Scale Production and Storage of Monoclonal Antibodies and Hybridomas

The end product of all the selection and cloning procedures described in Chapters 45 –48 will be a monoclonal hybridoma culture growing in a 0.2-mL culture well. From this single well, sufficient cells must be grown for storage in liquid nitrogen. It is advisable that at least six ampules, divided between two liquid nitrogen freezers, be stored. After the security of the cell line has been assured, then the clone can be further expanded for bulk antibody production. Large quantities of antibody may be produced either in ascitic fluid or in vitro in various culture vessels. The following sections describe the various areas covered in the chapter.