Development of low affinity techniques for applications in clinical chemistry

Abstract: An increase in the plasma level of creatine kinase MB (CKMB) has long been used to indicate acute myocardial infarction (AMI). For optimal treatment an early diagnosis is important. An increase in the ratio between the two isoforms of CKMB is seen much earlier than an increase in the total level of CKMB. One possible method for separating these isoforms could be weak affinity chromatography (WAC). This thesis is about WAC and about utilising WAC for clinical chemistry purposes. Both lectins and antibodies have been used in WAC. Further, a screening method for obtaining antibodies with low affinity has been developed based on WAC. The performance of WAC has been studied by solving the mathematical equations in chromatographic theory. Finally, antibodies with specificity for one of the CKMB isoforms, CKMB2, have been developed and characterised.