Monoclonal antibodies: Diagnostic uses

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:label /> <jats:p>Diagnosis of disease is a complex process requiring the clinician to deduce, from a set of symptoms and observations, an underlying cause, to predict which of the several therapeutic options is most likely to be effective, and to monitor that effectiveness. Laboratory tests that identify infectious agents, abnormal cells or elements of the body's response to disease, that quantify or localise particular molecules, cells or organisms in body fluids or tissues can provide valuable information to help the clinician with the initial diagnosis, with differential diagnosis (when the symptoms are consistent with several alternative causes) and with selection and monitoring of therapy. Antibodies, because of their exquisite specificity, are particularly useful reagents in this context, and monoclonal antibodies generally show superior specificity compared with polyclonal mixtures of antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are used widely in the diagnosis of disease, whether in the diagnostic laboratory, in the doctor's rooms or in the field.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Key Concepts:</jats:title> <jats:p> <jats:list list-type="bullet"> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>Correct diagnosis is a prerequisite to appropriate treatment of disease.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>Antibodies make useful reagents for identifying infectious or other disease‐causing agents.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>Monoclonal antibodies are particularly specific and often provide the best diagnostic reagents.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>Antibodies can be used in a variety of assay formats, designed to answer different questions – presence or absence of a particular substance, amount present and localisation within tissues.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>The rapid identification of new or rare infectious agents is an important public health measure, to monitor and reduce the chances of epidemics (as we see every few years with a new threat from an influenza variant).</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>Disease often results from imbalances or defects in normal physiological mechanisms, especially the immune system. Many diagnostic tests therefore analyse the components of normal physiological processes.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>Laboratory tests are useful after the initial diagnosis, to monitor the effects of therapy.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>Diagnostic tests are generally done in a specialised diagnostic laboratory, but it is often advantageous to perform tests at ‘point of care’ or at home.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> </jats:list> </jats:p> </jats:sec>