The purification of mouse monoclonal antibodies from ascitic fluid.

A method is described for the purification of monoclonal antibody from mouse ascitic fluid. The fluid is clarified and the lipid removed using silicon dioxide powder, before the immunoglobulin is precipitated using polyethylene glycol. The method provides IgM antibody in high yield and good purity. In the case of IgG antibodies the purity is 30-40% after PEG precipitation and the yield is high. The enriched IgG is adequate for many purposes and is suitable for further purification on an ion exchange column.