Elimination of nonspecific adsorption of serum proteins by Sepharose-bound antigens.

Nonspecific adsorption of serum proteins occurs with immunoadsorption of antibodies on Sepharose-myoglobin and Sepharose-staphylococcal nuclease immunoadsorbents. This adsorption results from nonspecific hydrophobic and ionic interactions between these serum proteins and the immunoadsorbents. Various preelution washing procedures were examined, and only borate-saline buffer (pH 8,5) containing a nonionic detergent, Tween 20 (0,1%), and a high salt concentration (1 m NaCl) eliminated or significantly reduced nonspecific adsorption without appreciably diminishing the recovery of specifically adsorbed antibodies.