Isotype Control mAbs

Isotype Control refers to an antibody that matches the primary antibody in species, isotype, dosage, and labeling, but does not specifically bind to the target analyte in the sample being tested. It is used to eliminate background signals caused by non-specific antibody binding. Isotype controls are commonly used in experiments such as flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation, and ELISA.

In flow cytometry, isotype controls are used to distinguish true positive signals from non-specific binding or background fluorescence. By using an antibody that has the same isotype but does not bind to the target antigen, researchers can subtract the background noise caused by nonspecific interactions, ensuring that the detected signal is truly due to the interaction between the primary antibody and its target. This is critical in experiments like immunophenotyping, where accurate identification of cell populations is required.

Isotype controls are also used in techniques like Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to ensure that the binding observed in these assays is due to the specific interaction between the antibody and its target antigen, not due to cross-reactivity or other nonspecific interactions. In addition, isotype controls are useful in assessing the performance of new antibodies and optimizing experimental conditions. They serve as a negative control in experiments where no binding is expected, helping to identify potential sources of error or inconsistencies in the data.

The isotype control antibodies from DIMA BIOTECH are recombinant antibodies expressed in mammalian cells using hen egg lysozyme (HEL) as the antigen. Since this antigen protein is absent in both humans and mice, it helps to avoid cross-reactivity.