Antibody Production Services
Overview
QYAOBIO provides comprehensive custom antibody production services spanning monoclonal, polyclonal, and recombinant antibody platforms. Each project begins with antigen design consultation and proceeds through immunization, screening, and purification — all supported by rigorous quality control. Our antibodies serve academic research, pharmaceutical discovery, and preclinical development programs worldwide.
We manufacture exclusively for research use. Our antibodies are not produced for clinical diagnostic or therapeutic applications.
The choice of antibody format depends on your experimental requirements. Monoclonal antibodies provide unmatched specificity and lot-to-lot reproducibility — ideal for assays requiring consistent performance over time. Polyclonal antibodies offer stronger signal amplification and greater tolerance for antigen variation, making them well-suited for Western Blot and immunoprecipitation. Recombinant antibodies eliminate hybridoma drift and enable engineering of antibody fragments (Fab, scFv) for specialized applications.
Service Comparison
| Service | Specificity | Host Species | Production Time | Typical Yield | Primary Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monoclonal Antibody | Single epitope | Mouse, Rat | 12–16 weeks | 10–50 mg | Western Blot, IHC, ELISA, flow cytometry |
| Polyclonal Antibody | Multiple epitopes | Rabbit, Goat, Sheep | 8–12 weeks | 50–200 mg (serum) | ELISA, IP, ChIP, Western Blot |
| Recombinant Antibody | Defined sequence | Mammalian expression | 14–18 weeks | 5–50 mg | High reproducibility assays, engineered formats |
Production Process
1. Antigen Design & Preparation
We work with peptides (≥8 amino acids), recombinant proteins, or customer-supplied immunogens. Antigen purity and characterization are verified before immunization — we will not proceed with an immunogen whose quality may compromise the outcome. Hapten conjugation to carrier proteins (KLH, BSA, OVA) is available for small-molecule antigens. For challenging targets (highly conserved proteins, membrane proteins, specific post-translational modifications), our team provides antigen design consultation.
2. Immunization
Species-appropriate immunization protocols with Freund’s or alternative adjuvants maximize immune response while adhering to animal welfare standards. Standard schedules include primary immunization followed by 3–4 booster injections at 2–3 week intervals. Serum titers are monitored by ELISA after each boost, and we provide interim test-bleed data so customers can track progress.
3. Screening
ELISA-based screening identifies the highest-titer animals (polyclonal) or hybridoma clones (monoclonal). For monoclonal antibodies, we typically screen 10–20 hybridoma clones per fusion, with subcloning to ensure monoclonality. For recombinant antibodies, phage display panning or single B-cell cloning isolates antigen-specific binders with defined sequences.
4. Purification
Protein A/G affinity chromatography for IgG purification from serum or culture supernatant. Antigen-specific affinity purification is available for polyclonal antibodies requiring enhanced specificity. Purity is verified by SDS-PAGE under reducing and non-reducing conditions.
5. Quality Control & Delivery
Each antibody is validated by ELISA titer determination and Western Blot against the target antigen. For monoclonal antibodies, isotype is determined. A full QC report including concentration (A280), purity (SDS-PAGE), ELISA titer data, and Western Blot image is provided. Antibodies are shipped with recommended working concentrations for common applications.
Quality Control Standards
| QC Parameter | Method | Acceptance Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | SDS-PAGE | ≥90% (reducing, Coomassie staining) |
| Titer | Indirect ELISA | ≥1:64,000 (polyclonal); ≥1:10,000 (monoclonal supernatant) |
| Affinity | SPR or ELISA | KD ≤ 10⁻⁸ M (monoclonal) |
| Specificity | Western Blot | Single band at expected MW |
| Endotoxin | LAL assay | ≤1 EU/mg |
| Concentration | A280 / BCA assay | As specified by customer |
Applications
- Basic Research: Western blot, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)
- Drug Discovery: Target validation, biomarker detection, pharmacokinetic assays
- Assay Development: ELISA pair matching, sandwich ELISA development, lateral flow assay components
- Structural Biology: Co-crystallization chaperones, cryo-EM fiducial markers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies?
Monoclonal antibodies recognize a single epitope with high specificity and offer lot-to-lot consistency — critical for assays where reproducibility over years matters. Polyclonal antibodies recognize multiple epitopes on the same antigen, providing stronger signal in detection applications and greater tolerance for antigen conformational changes, sequence variations, or partial degradation.
How long does custom antibody production take?
Polyclonal antibody production typically takes 8–12 weeks from antigen receipt. Monoclonal antibody projects require 12–16 weeks including hybridoma generation, screening, and subcloning. Recombinant antibody projects run 14–18 weeks. Rush timelines may be available — inquire during consultation.
What antigen formats do you accept?
We accept peptides (≥8 amino acids, >90% purity), recombinant proteins, purified native proteins, and small-molecule haptens requiring carrier protein conjugation (KLH, BSA, OVA). Contact us to discuss antigen suitability before ordering — poor antigen quality is the most common cause of failed antibody projects.
Do you offer antibody labeling or conjugation?
Yes. We provide HRP, biotin, FITC, PE, APC, and other fluorophore conjugations for both custom and catalog antibodies. Conjugation is verified by functional ELISA to confirm that labeling has not compromised antigen binding.
What if the antibody doesn’t meet specifications?
We assess each project’s outcome against the agreed-upon acceptance criteria. If the antibody does not meet ELISA titer, Western Blot specificity, or application-specific specifications despite following the optimized protocol, we discuss re-immunization or alternative strategies with the customer. You are never charged for antibodies that do not meet the specifications we committed to.
Can you produce antibodies for challenging targets?
Yes. Highly conserved targets, membrane proteins, post-translational modification-specific antibodies, and anti-idiotypic antibodies require specialized antigen design strategies. Our team has experience with difficult targets and will provide a candid feasibility assessment before project initiation. We may recommend alternative approaches such as DNA immunization or virus-like particle display for particularly challenging antigens.