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Mouse Hybridoma Development
Covance has generated hybridomas against a large variety of antigens. Prior to project initiation, you are provided with personalized project proposals and strategy consultation. Hybridoma cell lines developed by Covance remain exclusive property of the client. A typical hybridoma development project usually takes 6-8 months and has four phases: immunization, fusion, cloning and hybridoma stabilization. Any aspect of these four phases can be customized to meet your needs. The investigator has the option to terminate hybridoma development projects prior to the beginning of any phase. If desired, projects can be transferred to you at any point during these phases to give unparalleled control over your project. Our standard schedule of event for a 5 mouse project requires 1,800 ug of immunization antigen or 360 µg / mouse. Optimally, we need about 500 µg of antigen for screening by ELISA.

Phase I: Immunization
As a general procedure, we immunize 5 female Balb/c mice or strain of choice with immunogen emulsified with adjuvant. Subsequent injections follow a three-week cycle in which samples are drawn ten days after each injection. The animals' responses to immunogen are assessed by ELISA.

Immunogen Requirements:

  • Immunogen may be sent in liquid, powder, or gel format. The immunogen will need to be soluble (no gel) for the hyper-immunization at the end of the schedule.
  • The recommended concentration is 1.0 mg/ml or greater and the recommended buffer is PBS.
  • An additional 500 µg of antigen suitable for plate coating is required for ELISA testing, i.e. soluble in PBS.
Mouse Immunization Phase
Day 0 Balb/C Mouse — Female
Pre-bleed (~ 0.1 mL serum/mouse)
1° IP: 100 µg with FCA
21 Boost IP: 100 µg with FIA
42 Boost IP: 50 µg with FIA
52 Test Bleed (~ 0.1 mL serum/mouse)
53 ELISA Test (5 mice)
63 Boost IP: 50 µg with FIA
73 Test Bleed (~ 0.1 mL serum/mouse)
74 ELISA Test (5 mice)
84 Boost IP: 50 µg with FIA
94 Test Bleed (~ 0.1 mL serum/mouse)
95 ELISA Assay (1 to 5 mice)
98 Boost IV: 10 µg (pre-fusion 1 mouse only)
101-110 Phase Conclusion* (~ 0.3 mL serum, pre-fusion mouse)
*Contact us for more details regarding phase conclusion.
Phase II: Fusion
Spleen cells from hyper-immunized mice are prepared and fused with P3X63Ag8.653 or SP2/OAG14 myelomas using polyethylene glycol. Viable hybridomas are selected and screened for antigen specific antibodies by ELISA. The antibody secreting hybridomas (up to 48) with the highest absorbance are grown and temporarily frozen in duplicate vials. Media from positive hybridomas is shipped to you for evaluation.
Mouse Fusion Phase
Day 0 Fusion of spleen cells with myelomas
14 Clones selected and incubated in controlled environment for 1-7 days
18-21 ELISA (One to two 96 well plates)
21-35 Expansion and freezing of up to 48 hybridomas
36-42 Shipment of media
Note: Any remaining spleen cells may also be frozen.
  • Client may also chose to freeze spleen cells from any immunized mice as a back up for future hybridoma development.
  • Additional antibody containing culture and ELISA screenings can be requested for additional charges.
Phase III: Cloning
A maximum of 5 positive, client selected primary clones will be expanded. Four of the selections will have two vials frozen down at a concentration of 1.0x107 cells/ml for long term storage and one is selected for cloning by limiting dilution. Wells with growing cells following cloning are screened for antibody secretion by ELISA. The media samples (~500 µl) from up to 10 positive clones with the highest absorbance determined by OD measurement are shipped to the client for evaluation and the clones are temporarily frozen into duplicate vials.
Mouse Cloning Phase
Day 0 Cloning procedure
14-16 ELISA (Five 96 well plates)
16-30 Expansion and freezing of up to 10 hybridomas
31-42 Shipment of media
Note: Additional cloning as well as isotyping of selected clones is available.
Optional but Recommended:

Phase IV Stabilization of Hybridoma
A clone of your choice from Phase III will be cloned again by limiting dilution to generate a stable, third generation cell line. The growing cells are screened for antigen specific antibody by ELISA. The media samples (~500 µl) from up to 10 positive clones with the highest absorbance determined by OD measurement are shipped to the client for evaluation and the clones are temporarily frozen into duplicate vials. One cell line is selected for final expansion for long term storage or scale up by in vitro methods or ascites production.
Mouse Stabilization Phase Protocol
Day 0 Cloning procedure
14-16 ELISA (Five 96 well plates)
16-30 Expansion and freezing of up to 10 hybridomas
31-42 Shipment of media
Note: The option to re-thaw the re-clones for expansion and cryopreservation of 10 vials each is available.
Although we realize that many companies are not offering this final stabilization phase, our experience reinforces its importance. We do recommend it to provide you with the most stable, reproducible cell line for continued, reliable use in your research.

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Our Shipping Address
Attn: Immunology Services
465 Swampbridge Road
Denver, PA 17517
tel (800) 345-4114
tel (717) 336-4921
fax (717) 336-3481

AAALAC International Accredited, GLP Studies, OLAW Assured, USDA Research Registered


Document Revision Date: 6/12/07
Antibody Services
Tel: 800-345-4114
Tel: 717-336-4921
Fax:717-336-3481
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