What are the differences between primary monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) differ fundamentally in their origin, specificity, and applications. mAbs stem from a single cell clone and exhibit remarkable specificity by binding to a lone epitope on the target antigen with consistent structural uniformity. In contrast, pAbs arise from multiple clones of B cells and provide a more extensive epitope recognition range, resulting in structural diversity.

The production of mAbs is often more time-consuming and costly, making them suitable for precision-focused applications like diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. On the other hand, pAbs are produced more quickly and are cost-effective, finding versatility in various research applications. Deciding to choose a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody depends on the specific requirements of the experiment or application, considering factors such as targeting precision, cost, and the desired breadth of epitope recognition.

See all primary monoclonal antibodies    See all primary polyclonal antibodies


Monoclonal vs polyclonal antibodies: the key differences

Monoclonal antibodiesPolyclonal antibodies
  • Derived from a single clone of B cells
  • Bind to single epitope—highly specific
  • Higher production times and cost due to complex manufacturing processes
  • Commonly used in precision-focused research applications like diagnostic assays (ELISA, western blot, etc.), therapeutics (e.g., targeted cancer therapies)
  • Derived from multiple clones of B cells
  • Recognize multiple epitopes—broader specificity
  • Versatile and widely employed in various research applications
  • Quicker and more cost-effective to produce
  • Commonly used in research applications where broad specificity is needed like immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), western blot, and early diagnostic tests


Primary monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are created by introducing an antigen to a host animal to prompt a humoral immune response. After this response, the associated B cells can be screened and selected down to the most specific antibody. These cells from the host are merged with cultured malignant myeloma cells in vitro, yielding hybridomas. These hybridomas are endowed with immortality due to myeloma characteristics, and can be cultivated easily. Some hybridoma clones, maintaining B cell properties, persistently produce genetically homogeneous antibodies against a single epitope—termed monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies closely resemble natural immunoglobulins from the immunized animal, but differ from serum-derived polyclonal antibodies as they are specific to a single epitope, ensuring a stable, long-term supply.


Hosts used for primary monoclonal antibodies

Considering the host species for monoclonal antibodies is crucial for many reasons like immunogenicity, cross-reactivity, ease of humanization, evolutionary distinctiveness, etc.

Host nameRabbit monoclonal antibodiesMouse monoclonal antibodiesHamster monoclonal antibodiesRat monoclonal antibodiesLlama monoclonal antibodies
Key characteristics
  • Ease of humanization
  • More robust immune response compared to murine models
  • Higher evolutionary proximity to humans
  • Multiple stable fusion partners for hybridoma production
  • Presence of endogenous IgG that leads to increased background
  • Evolutionarily distinct from humans making a suitable alternative to rat and mouse monoclonals
  • Immunization challenges
  • Higher evolutionary proximity to humans
  • Multiple stable fusion partners for hybridoma production
  • Enables the production of the VHH region that are temp stable and smaller in size
  • Ease of use in immunoassays like ELISA
  • Animal model needs specialized requirements
Sensitivity (display known range)10-10–10-1210-7–10-910-7–10-910-7–10-910-8–10-10
Cross-reactivityMinimalYes—Rat, rarely humansMinimalYes—Mouse, rarely humansMinimal


Primary polyclonal antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies are typically produced by the inoculation of a suitable mammal such as a mouse, rabbit, or goat. Larger mammals are often preferred as the amount of serum collected is greater. An antigen is injected into the mammal, typically over several weeks, inducing the B-lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulins (IgG) specific for the antigen. Polyclonal IgG is purified from the mammal’s serum.


Hosts used for primary polyclonal antibodies

Considering the host species for polyclonal antibodies is crucial for many reasons like immunogenicity, cross-reactivity, ease of humanization, evolutionary distinctiveness, etc.

Host nameRabbit polyclonal antibodiesGoat polyclonal antibodiesChicken polyclonal antibodiesPig polyclonal antibodies
Key characteristics
  • High affinity and robust immune response
  • Broad epitope recognition
  • High species specificity
  • Strong reactivity across species, especially humans
  • Adaptability with adjuvants
  • Sustainable antibody production
  • Unique antibody structure like single- chain variable region
  • Reduced cross-reactivity
  • Strong reactivity across species, especially humans
  • High similarity to Human Immune system
Cross-reactivityVariable based on production design

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