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Abstract
Solid-phase displacement assays allow extremely fast analyses when performed under continuous flow conditions. Continuous dissociation of labeled antigen from the immobilized saturated antibodies occurs even in the absence of competing unlabeled antigen. This spontaneous dissociation creates more unoccupied antibody binding sites which affect the magnitude of the signal generated. In order to evaluate the impact of this phenomenon in more detail, we extended the law of mass action to solid-phase binding assays and analyzed the dissociation kinetics of labeled antigen under continuous flow conditions. The effect of the flow on the dissociation kinetics was determined by calculation of the apparent dissociation rate constants (kd) which increase with an increase in the flow rate. These dissociation rate constants are approximately 20- to 30-fold lower than those obtained from displacement studies (i.e., in the presence of competing unlabeled antigen). The difference in the dissociation rate constants obtained in the two studies is most likely a function of the degree of reassociation. The results of this study provide a basis for better understanding antibody kinetics at solid-liquid interfaces under flow conditions.