STABILITY OF MONOCLONAL IGM ANTIBODIES FREEZE-DRIED IN THE PRESENCE OF TREHALOSE

We describe the use of the disaccharide trehalose for stabilization of mouse monoclonal IgM antibodies during freeze-drying and prolonged st orage at elevated temperatures. Spent culture media, ascitic fluids an d isolated immunoglobulins were freeze-dried in the presence of trehal ose, stored at different temperatures, and tested after rehydration fo r their binding to their corresponding antigens. Antibodies, directed against various types of antigens, effectively recovered their binding efficiency as tested in enzyme-linked immunoassays, flow cytometry an d immunofluorescence. Application of trehalose for freeze-drying of la bile monoclonal IgM antibodies permits convenient long-term storage of large quantities of antibodies, facilitates their transport at ambien t temperature and simplifies the construction of pre-aliquoted kits ba sed on such antibodies.