The upfront cost of producing custom monoclonal antibodies can be expensive, but the high-performing reagents they generate can be extremely valuable. This is especially true for therapeutic or diagnostic applications that involve complex processes and longer project timelines. Choosing the right initial antibody development strategy can help limit future engineering steps, significantly reducing overall costs.
Antibody experts can navigate the intricacies of antibody production methods to select the most appropriate technique for your specific goals and project constraints. For example, if your target protein is toxic, traditional immunization may be a poor choice, while phage display will be the preferred approach for creating antibodies with a high degree of scalability and adaptability.
Custom Monoclonal Antibodies: Tailored Solutions for Your Research
Ideally, choose a vendor that provides detailed validation data for all antibodies and demonstrates that these data are regularly updated to reflect current testing results. This information can help you optimize your experimental conditions and ensure that the antibody will perform as expected for your application.
Be careful to avoid storage conditions that compromise antibody stability. Antibodies should be stored at -20°C or below and not exposed to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing (e.g. by storing antibody vials on a freezer door shelf).
It is also important to choose a vendor that offers support and troubleshooting should you encounter an issue with an antibody. Specifically, look for vendors who are willing to work with you to optimize experimental protocols and reagents. Vendors who do not offer this service may not be able to validate their antibodies or have the technical expertise to advise you.