Monoclonal antibodies evaluated for use in a screening assay for conjugates of human serum albumin and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

This enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed to measure pyridoxal 5'-phosphate bound to albumin (PLP-HSA) in human serum. The monoclonal antibody titer was 1:2000 and a sequential saturation analysis curve, prepared with samples containing from 10 to 1000 nmol/L, showed a 50% inhibition of antibody at 50 nmol of the conjugate per liter. The lower limit of detection for PLP-HSA was 10 nmol/L, a sensitivity 1000-fold greater than that for any potential interferent. When serum samples gave negative results in the assay, we compared the antigenicity of the principal sites for PLP binding on HSA. It was apparent that the preferred physiological site was not antigenic; however, three additional sites for PLP binding on HSA elicited comparable antibody avidity. This EIA is potentially quite sensitive and specific for PLP-HSA, but considerable additional effort is required to convert serum PLP to an HSA-bound form detectable in the assay, which limits its application as a screening method.