Autoradiographic plaques for the detection of antibody formation to soluble proteins by single cells

Single cells that synthesize antibody to soluble proteins can be detected and counted by an autoradiographic procedure. The method is based on the specific binding of I(131)-labeled antigen to the antidogy which has been produced by and has diffused around cells in an agarose medium and which has been precipitated by an antibody to gamma globulin. The antigen-binding zones appear as dark spots on high-speed x-ray film exposed to the dried agarose preparations.