Why use the VAPR instead of an outside company to generate monoclonal antibodies?
Companies cost between 2 and 3 times more than what we charge at the VAPR. More importantly, we’re right here at Vanderbilt – we can work with you to discuss, design and execute relatively sophisticated strategies that would not be feasible for a company, and we can troubleshoot together if unexpected problems arise. Because of the distance and complications involved in mailing samples, companies generally offer little more than a guarantee to provide ELISA positive clones to a purified antigen. You send them purified antigen, and 5 months later (if things work out), they send back 5-10 clones that score highly by ELISA. The antibodies may or may not do what you need. We can work directly with you to vastly increase the odds of getting the right antibodies. If you need mAbs that work in a particular assay (eg, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, Western blotting ,Immunohistochemistry), we can work with you to screen specifically for these functions. Although nobody can provide an
