3 Other Uses of Monoclonal Antibodies

PREGNANCY TESTS: 1) Monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a hormone called HCG (found only in the urine of pregnant women) are attached to the end of the stick which woman urinates on. 2) If pregnant, HCG will bind to the monoclonal antibodies on the test stick, and a change in colour or pattern on the stick will indicate pregnancy CANCER IDENTIFICATION: 1) Cancerous cells have antigens. Monoclonal antibodies can be designed to bind specifically with these antigens 2) When injected into a person's body, the monoclonal antibodies will bind with these cancer cells and clump them together making it easier to identify a cancerous tumour. The MA's can: carry drugs that have been attached to them, to the tumour OR encourage your immune system to attack the cancer cells directly OTHER DIAGNOSTIC USES: Monoclonal antibodies are also used in a similar way to identify and diagnose infections, such as HIV and AIDS, herpes and chlamydia. Some monoclonal antibodies have been attached to dyes that will glow fluorescent under UV light. This can make disease identification much easier