PARTICLE COUNTING IMMUNOASSAY .4. USE OF F(AB')2 FRAGMENTS AND N-EPSILON-CHLOROACETYL LYSINE N-CARBOXY-ANHYDRIDE FOR THEIR COUPLING TO POLYSTYRENE LATEX-PARTICLES

Improved performance with the latex agglutination immunoassay, PACIA, is possible when the F(ab′)2 fragments of antibody are chemically coupled at their hinge region to a protein-coated latex using a new coupling reagent, Nε{lunate}-chloroacetyl lysine N-carboxyanhydride. This reagent, whether by orientating the complete antibody molecule or its F(ab′)2 fragment or by preventing antibody denaturation, increased the sensitivity of the PACIA method. The use of F(ab′)2 fragments eliminated most serum interference with the test. © 1979.