Ascites is an ideal method for producing monoclonal antibodies in a highly concentrated and stable form.
Many cell lines that are difficult to scale up into cell culture systems perform well in ascites production.
Antibody concentration is much greater in ascites fluid than in cell culture supernatant, thus simplifying purification.
MLS's ascites production facility makes ascites for its own inventory of monoclonal antibodies.
Customised ascites are also available.
In this process, cell cultures (frozen vials of cells and/or live cultures provided by the client) are scaled up prior to injection.
The media is then prepared to the client's specifications.
Mycoplasma testing, cryopreservation and cell storage services are available.
Multi-site liquid nitrogen storage is also available at certain MLS facilities.
MLS has BALB/c and CAF1 mice available for the second phase (ascites production), though other strains, including athymic nudes or SCIDS, are available upon request.
Up to 5000 mice can be injected from a single vial of cells.
In the third phase, all lots are analysed by gel electrophoresis, densitometry and protein assay.
Data is then entered on the specification sheet and into the MLS lot analysis database.
Trend analysis charts are then created for each batch.
Purification services are also available.
MLS's facility and humane procedures are monitored by the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) in accordance with National Research Council guidelines.
MLS's facility is ISO 9000/9001 certified and EC 1774 approved.
