rev: 5/16/2008

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Sample Kit Protocol: (see actual insert with kit for batch specific information):


Pelikine Compact Human TNF-ALPHA ELISA Kit


CAT# RDI-M1923clb, new cat#: 55R-M1923clb 288 tests    PRICE: $525.00


An enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of human Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha



Protocol summary and checklist Pelikine compact human TNFa ELISA kit

Day 0: Bring coating antibody to room temperature (18-25').
Prepare coating buffer.

Dilute coating antibody 1:100 in coating buffer, add 100ul   to all wells, cover the plate(s) and incubate overnight at   room temperature.

Day 1:

Bring all reagents, with exception of streptavidin-HRP, to room temperature.

Prepare blocking buffer.

Wash the plate(s) five times with PBS.

Add 200 ul blocking buffer to all wells and incubate for one hour at room temperature.

Prepare standard and sample dilutions.

Prepare washing buffer.

Wash the plates(s) five times with washing buffer.

Leaving the substrate blank wells empty, add 100 ul of standard and sample dilutions to the appropriate wells, cover the plates(s) and incubate for one hour at room temperature.

Dilute biotinylated TNFa antibody 1:100 in dilution buffer

Wash the plate(s) five times with washing buffer.

Leaving the substrate blank wells empty, add 100 ul of the diluted biotinylated TNFa antibody to all wells, cover the plate(s) and incubate for one hour at room temperature

Dilute the streptavidin-HRP conjugate 1:10,000 in dilution buffer.

Wash the plate(s) five times with washing buffer.

Leaving the substrate blank wells empty, add 100 ul of the   streptavidin-HRP conjugate to all wells, cover plate(s) and incubate for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Just before use, prepare substrate solution.

Wash the plate(s) five times with washing buffer.

Add 100 ul substrate solution to all wells, including the substrate blank wells, and incubate for 30 minutes at room temperature in the dark.

Add 100 ul stop solution to all wells and read the plate at 450 nm.

Calculate the amount of TNFa in the samples.


INTRODUCTION

Tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa) is an extremely potent peptide cytokine which serves as an endogenous mediator of inflammatory, immune and host defence functions. Several substances originally described for their biological activities have been identified as TNFa, cachectin, macrophage cytotoxin (MCT), necrosin, cytotoxin (CTX), haemorrhagic factor, macrophage cytotoxic factor (MCF) and differentiation-inducing factor (DIF). TNFa is capable of acting independently and in conjunction with a variety of other factors to affect the phenotype and metabolism of cells in every tissue of the body. It is generally thought that TNFa is not produced constitutively by normal cells, but rather to be induced potently by invasive stimuli in the setting of both endoplastic and infectious disease. In this role, macrophages and monocytes are thought to be the cells which contribute most to the local and systemic TNFa response to bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms and products. Bioassays for the quantification of TNFa, including the cytotoxic assay on murine fibroblasts have been used for several years. However, TNFa shares many of the biological effects of IL-1 and for this reason the two commonly interfere in bioassays. Although the cytotoxic assay mentioned above, is unaffected by IL-1, it remains time consuming and might be susceptible to interference by other substances.

The Pelikine compact(tm) human TNFa ELISA kit has been developed for faster, more reproducible and specific quantification of  human TNFa in serum, plasma and other body fluids, as well as in cell-culture supernatant.


II. PRINCIPLE OF THE TEST

The Pelikine compact (tm) human TNFa ELISA kit is a "sandwich type" of enzyme immunoassay in which a monoclonal anti human TNFa antibody is bound onto polystyrene microplate wells. Human TNFa, present in a measured volume of sample or standard is captured by the antibody on the microplate plate, and non-bound material is removed by washing. Subsequently, a biotinvlated second monoclonal antibody to human TNFa is added. This antibody binds to the TNFa-antibody complex present in the microplate well. Excess biotinylated antibody is removed by washing, followed by addition of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated streptavidin, which binds onto the biotinylated side of the TNF-a sandwich. After removal of non-bound HRP conjugate by washing, a substrate solution is added to the wells. A coloured product is formed in proportion to the amount of TNFa present in the sample or standard. After the reaction has been terminated by the addition of a stop solution, absorbance is measured in a microplate plate reader. From the absorbance of samples and those of a standard curve, the concentration of TNFa can be determined by interpolation with the standard curve.


III.STORAGE AND STABILITY

The Pelikine compact (tm) human TNFa ELISA kit should be stored at -18'C to -32'C. The performance of the kit is guaranteed until the expiration date shown on the case label.

IV. CONTENTS OF THE KIT

The Pelikine compact(tm) human TNFa ELISA kit contains material  sufficient for 288 tests, including standard curve samples. The reagents provided are:

Quantity           Kit Component                   Volume                              Cap Color

   1 vial               coating antibody                    100-fold concentrated          375ul red

   1 vial               blocking reagent                     50-fold concentrated           2ml trans parent

   1 vial               TNFa standard(lyophilized)   10,000pg/ml                         250ul

   1 vial               biotinylated TNFa antibody   100-fold concentrated           375ul yellow

   1 vial               streptavidin-HRP conjugate   10,000-fold concentrated      20ul brown

   1 bottle           dilution buffer 5-fold concent   60ml

   3 pcs               microplate plates + lid

  10 pcs              plate seals

V. PRECAUTIONS FOR USE

1) The Pelikine compact(tm) human TNFa ELISA kit is intended for research purposes only.

2) Only use the reagents and microplate plates supplied with the kit, do not mix reagents from different kit lots.

3) Handle all plasma and serum samples with care to prevent transmission of blood-borne infections.

4) Sodium azide inactivates HRP, do not use sodium azide-containing solutions, nor add sodium azide to the supplied

materials.

5) All reagents contain thiomersal (0.001% w/v) and may be toxic upon ingestion, inhalation or skin contact. Avoid contact of skin, eyes or clothing with dilution, washing or substrate buffer. In case of contact, wash skin or eyes with water and consult a physician.

6) The TNFa standard contains human serum which has been found to be non-reactive for Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Nevertheless the standard should be handled as potentially hazardous and capable of transmitting diseases.

7) Centrifuge all vials before use (1 minute 3000 x g).

8) With the exception of the substrate blank wells, do not allow wells to stand uncovered or dry for extended periods between incubation steps.


VI. ADDITIONAL BUFFERS & SOLUTIONS REQUIRED (or see the Pelikine (tm)Tool Set )

  Coating buffer: 0.1M Carbonate/bicarbonate buffer pH 9.6

   Solution A: 1.24 g Na2CO3.H2O in 100 ml distilled water

   Solution B: 1.68 g NaHCO3 in 200 ml distilled water

   Take 70 ml of solution A, and add solution B until the pH is 9.6 (approximately 175 ml of solution B required)

         The prepared buffer can be stored up to one week at 2-8'C.


PBS stock solution [20 x]: 0.2 M Phosphate Buffered Saline(PBS)

  Dissolve 32 g    Na2HPO4.2H2O

                  6 g   NaH2PO4.2H20

              164 g   NaC1

      in 900 ml distilled water

(intensive stirring and some heating will speed dissolution). Bring temperature to room temperature (18-25'C) and check pH;   if necessary adjust pH to 6.8 - 6.9 with concentrated HC1 or NaOH, and add distilled water to a volume of 1 liter (when diluted 20 times the obtained buffer will have a pH of 7.2 - 7.4).

Add 20 mg thiomersal as preservative. Do not use sodium azide (NaN3) since this preservative reduces the quality of the en zymatic label.

The prepared buffer can be stored up to three months at 2-8'C.

Note: in the concentrated buffer salt crystals may appear when stored at 2-8'C. Before preparing the working-strength buffer,first warm the concentrated buffer BRIEFLY to 37'C to dissolve the precipitate.


Washing buffer: PBS with 0.005% TWEEN 20

 Make 1 liter of working-strength PBS by diluting the PBS stock solution (see above) 20-fold with distilled water.

    Add 50 ul TWEEN 20.

The prepared buffer can be stored up to one month at 2-8'C.


Substrate buffer: 0.11 M acetate buffer pH 5.5

Dissolve 15.0 g sodium-acetate (CH3COONa.3H20) in 800 ml distilled water.

Adjust pH to 5.5 with glacial acetic acid, add distilled water   to a volume of 1 liter.

Do not add any preservative (e.g. merthiolate,sodium azide) since this may affect the quality of the enzymatic colour development.

The prepared buffer can be stored up to two weeks at 2-8'C.


3,5,3',5' -tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) stock solution: 6mg/ml TMB

DMSO

Dissolve 30 mg 3,5,3',5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in 5 ml dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO).

The prepared stock solution can be stored up to 1 month at room temperature (18-25'C) and protected against light.


Hydrogen peroxide stock solution: 3% H202 solution in distilled water.

The prepared stock solution can be stored up to one month at  2-8'C.


Substrate solution

For each plate mix the following reagents:

  12 ml substrate buffer

  200 ul TMB stock solution

    12 ul H202 stock solution

The substrate solution should be prepared just before use and has to be at room temperature (18-25'C) for optimal reproducible results.


Stop solution: 1.8M H2S04 solution in distilled water.


VII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional materials required

-Pipetting devices for accurate delivery of 1-10ul, 50 ul, 100 ul and 1 ml volumes.

-Beakers, flasks, cylinders necessary for preparation of reagents.

-Device for delivery of washing buffer(wash bottle/automated plate washer).

-microplate plate reader.


Sensitivity

MEAN calculated zero signal + 3 SD : 1-3pg/ml  (shake-static incubation)

2 x  (MEAN calculated zero signal): 4-6pg/ml(shake-static incuba tion).

Note: the sensitivity is dependent of the type and quality of   enzymatic substrate.


Expected values

TNFa values in fresh serum and plasma samples of healthy indiviuals are below 10 pg/ml.


Specificity

No cross reactivity was observed with the following recombinant human proteins: IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (M-CSF), Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), RANTES,Stem Cell Factor/Mast Cell Factor (SCF/MCF), Transforming Growth Factor B-1 (TGFB-1), Tumor Necrosis Factor B (TNFB/Lymphotoxin), and Interferon y (IFNY).


REFERENCES

Aggerwal,B.B. Gutterman,J.U.(1992) Human cytokines.Blackwell Sci.Pub. ISBN 0-86542-183-8

Ammann, A.J. et al(1987) J.Clin. Immunol. 7:6

Beutler,B. et al (1985) Science 229: 869

Beutler,B. et al (1985) Nature 316: 552

Carswell,E.A. et al (1975) Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci. 72: 3666

Dinarello, C.A. et al (1986) J.Exp.Med. 163: 1433

Dinarello, C.A. et al (1988) Ref.Inf.Diseas. 10: 168

Exely, A.R. et al (1990) Cytokine 2: 353

Kwiakowski, D.A. et al (1990) The Lancet 336: 1201

Pennica, D. et al (1984) Nature 312: 724

Silberstein,S.B. et al (1986) Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.83: 1055

Sugarman,B.J. et al (1985) Science 230: 943

Thomson, A.W. (1991) The cytokine handbrook.Academic Press ISBN 0-12689660-7

Tori,F.M. et al (1985) Science 229: 876

Tracey,K.J. et al (1986) Science 23: 470

Wong,G.H.W. et al (1986) Nature 323: 819


VIII. ASSAY PROCEDURE

1. BRING ALL REAGENTS TO ROOM TEMPERATURE (18-25'C), with the ex ception of the streptavidin-HRP conjugate which has to be kept    at -18'C to -32'C to ensure stability. Centrifuge all vials before use (1 minute 3000 x g).

For your convenience an easy-reference manual with check list  and plate plan are available on the last pages of this leaflet

2. DILUTION BUFFER

The kit contains one bottle with 5-fold concentrated dilution buffer.

For optimal assay results, dilute samples and standard in working-strength dilution buffer.

Calculate the quantity of dilution buffer required (approximately15 ml undiluted buffer per microplate plate) and prepare a working-strength solution by diluting the opalescent concentrated buffer 5 times in distilled water before use. The working-strength dilution buffer can be stored for up to one week at 2-8'C.


3. microplate PLATES Coating antibody

Coating

The kit contains three microplate plates for 96 tests each, including the standard curve samples.

Prepare coating buffer as described on page 3 of the information leaflet.

Per microplate plate, add 120 ul of coating antibody (red-capped vial) to 12 ml coating buffer.

Add 100 ul to all wells, cover microplate plate(s) with lid and incubate overnight at room temperature (18-25'C).


Washing procedure

Prepare working-strength PBS (1:20 dilution of stock PBS as described on page 3 of the information leaflet).

Aspirate supernatants from wells and completely fill the wells (>300 ul) with working-strength PBS and aspirate. Repeat this four times, after the final aspiration the wells should be dry.


Blocking procedure

The kit contains one transparent-capped vial with 2 ml blocking reagent.

Prepare blocking buffer by adding 500 ul blocking reagent to 25 ml working-strength PBS (1:20 dilution of stock PBS as described on page 3 of the information leaflet). Add 200 ul blocking buffer to all wells, cover microplate plate(s) with adhesive seal,gently agitate the microplate plate by tapping the edge of the plate for a few seconds to mix contents of each well and incubate for 1 hour at room temperature (18-25'C).

4. TNFa STANDARD Standard curve preparation

A natural human TNFa standard has been calibrated against the WHO International Standard (TNFa 87/650; National Institute for  Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, U.K. 1 WHO Unit= 25 pg TNFa). In former CLB TNFa reagents sets (Batch TNF-RS0001, TNF-RS0002, 1923-00-03 to 1923-00-04] 1 pg

TNFa standard is comparable with 0.6 pg of the WHO standard). The kit contains one lyophilized vial with 10,000 pg/ml natural  TNFa.

Reconstitute the lyophilized standard by adding 250 ul of dis tilled water to the vial. Incubate for 10 minutes at room temp- erature and mix gently. After reconstitution the standard must be stored frozen (,-18;C, preferably ,-70'C).

Label 7 tubes, one tube for each dilutions: 1000,  333,   111,   37, 12.4,   4.1,  and 1.4 pg/ml.  Pipette 360 ul of working-strength  dilution buffer into the tube labelled 1000 pg/ml and 300 ul of   working-strength dilution buffer into the other tubes.

Transfer 40 ul of the reconstitited TNFa standard (10,000 pg/ ml) into the first tube labelled 1000 pg/ml, mix well and transfer 150 ul of this dilution into the second tube labelled 333  pg/ml. Repeat the serial dilutions five more times by adding 150 ul of the previous tube of diluted standard to the 300 ul of dilution buffer.

The standard curve will contain 1000,   333,   111,   37,   12.4,    4.1,   1.4 and 0 pg/ml (dilution buffer).


It is recommended to prepare two separate series for each assay.

Avoid repeated freeze-thawing of the standard, although experimental data have shown that up to 3 freeze-thaw cycles have no effect on the TNFa levels of the standard.


5. SAMPLES

Serum, EDTA-anti-coagulated plasma, and culture fluids are suitable for use in the assay (caution: separate plasma/serum and blood cells within 4 hours after collection, non-separated samples must be kept on temperatures from 2 to 8'C). Do not use grossly haemolyzed or lipemic specimens. If samples are to be run within 24 hours, they may be stored at 2-8'C; otherwise samples should be stored frozen (<-18'C).

Up to 3 freeze-thaw cycles have no effect on the TNFa levels of  serum or plasma samples. Nonetheless, excessive freeze-thaw cycles should be avoided. Prior to the assay, frozen samples should be thawed as quickly as possible in a 37'C waterbath and then brought to room temperature (18-25'C).

It is recommended to dilute the test samples at least 1:2 in working-strength dilution buffer. If high levels of TNFa (< 750 pg/ml) are expected in the test samples, additional dilutions of sample i.e. 1:10 and 1:50 should also be prepared.


6. FIRST WASH STEP

Prepare washing buffer as described on page 3 of this leaflet.

Wash the required microplate plates five times with washing buffer in a plate washer. In case of manual washing,completely fill the wells (>300ul) with washing buffer and aspirate,repeat this four times. After the final aspiration the wells should be dry.


7. FIRST INCUBATION STEP Standards and samples

Leaving the substrate blank wells empty, transfer 100 ul of the prepared standards and samples in duplicate into the appropriate wells (see recommended plate plan).
Cover plate(s) with adhesive seal, gently agitate the micro titer plate by tapping the edge of the plate for a few seconds to mix contents of each well and incubate for 1 hour at room temperature (18-25'C).


8. SECOND WASH STEP

Aspirate supernatant from wells and wash the microplate plate (s) as described in point 6 above.


9. SECOND INCUBATION STEP biotinylated-TNFa antibody The kit contains one yellow-capped vial with concentrated TNFa   antibody to 12 ml working-strength dilution buffer just before use.

Leaving the substrate blank wells empty, add 100 ul of diluted biotinylated TNFa antibody to all wells.

Cover plate(s) with adhesive seal, gently agitate the micro titer plate by tapping the edge of the plate for a few seconds to mix contents of each well and incubate for 1 hour at room temperature (18-25'C).


10.THIRD WASH STEP

Aspirate supernatant from wells and wash the microplate plate(s) as described in point 6 above.


11.THIRD INCUBATION STEP Streptavidin-HRP conjugate The kit contains one brown vial of concentrated streptavidin- HRP conjugate, which must be stored at -18'C to -32'C to main- tain maximal stability. The contents of the vial will not be frozen at this temperature.

Per microplate plate, add 3 ul streptavidin-HRP conjugate to 30 ml of working-strength dilution buffer just before use. Do not prepare in advance of assay.

Leaving the substrate blank wells empty, add 100 ul of strepta vidin-HRP conjugate to all wells.

Cover the microplate plate(s) with adhesive seal, gently agitate the microplate plate by tapping the edge of the frame for a few seconds to mix contents of each well and incubate for 30 minutes at room temperature (18-25'C).

12. FOURTH WASH STEP

Aspirate supernatant from wells and wash the microplate plate (s) as described in point 6 above.

13. FOURTH INCUBATION STEP Enzymatic colour development

Approximately 10 minutes before use, prepare the substrate solution as described on page 4 of this leaflet.

Add 100 ul of substrate solution to all wells, including the substrate blank wells.

Cover microplate plate(s) with lid, gently agitate the microti ter plate by tapping the edge of the frame for a few seconds to mix contents of each well and incubate for 30 minutes at room temperature (18-25'C) in the dark. Do not cover the plate with aluminium foil.

Note: the speed of enzymatic colour development is influenced by many factors including temperature and quality of the used TMB.


14. STOP ENZYMATIC REACTION

Add 100 ul of stop solution to all wells.

After stopping the colour is stable for maximally 30 minutes.


15. PLATE READ-OUT

Read at 450 nm in an ELISA reader.

IX. RESULTS

Substrate blank

- Record the absorbance at 450 nm for the substrate blank wells and average the duplicate values.

- Calculate the net average absorbances by subtracting the average of the substrate blank wells.

- Plot the net average absorbances (ordinate) versus the TNFa concentration in pg/ml (abscissa) on log-linear paper and draw the best fitting curve. An example of a standard curve is given on the next page.

Samples

- Record the absorbance at 450 nm for each standard well, and average the duplicate values.

- Calculate the net average absorbances by subtracting the aver age of the substrate blank wells.

- Locate the net average absorbance value found for each sample on the vertical axis and follow a horizontal line intersecting the standard curve. At the point of intersection, read the TNFa concentration (pg/ml) from the horizontal axis. Multiply the obtained TNFa concentration with the dilution factor of the sample and record this figure.

X. INCREASED SENSITIVITY

The assay sensitivity can be increased by a small adaptation of the incubation methodology. Just follow all the instructions as stated in the assay procedure (chapter VIII), but incubate at room temperature (18-25'C) on a horizontal plate shaker at 700 + 100 rpm. All incubations, including the enzymatic colour development, have to be completed on the shaker, in the same time as stated in the static assay procedure. This will result in an increase in assay sensitivity, without effects on the background levels (see figure next page).

SAMPLE DATA  (DO NOT USE TO CALCULATE ACTUAL RESULTS):

Calculated Mean absorbances for sample data

 

STATIC INCUBATION

SHAKEN INCUBATION

substrate blank

0

0

0       pg/ml

0.012

0.029

1.4    pg/ml

0.016

0.046

4.1    pg/ml

0.028

0.064

12.4  pg/ml

0.061

0.132

37.0  pg/ml

0.144

0.319

111   pg/ml

0.403

0.895

333   pg/ml

1.076

2.361

1000 pg/ml

2.157

3.000

 

 

 

For In Vitro Research Use Only-Not for use in Diagnostics


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Concord MA 01742-3049

USA

phone (978) 371-6446 or (800) 370-2222

fax      (978) 371-2266

EMAIL:antibodies@fitzgerald-fii.com

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