While rabbit polyclonal antibody production antibodies (mAbs) are a single antibody targeting a defined antigen epitope, polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) provide a mixture of antibodies that generally bind to multiple epitopes. pAbs are typically a more economical choice for many applications and offer high versatility.

Polyclonal antibodies are produced using a hybridoma technology that immunizes animals with a selected antigen. This produces an immune response from which an antiserum is obtained for use in a specific application or as a component of a kit. An antiserum is then purified to isolate the desired antibody, yielding a polyclonal antibody product.

Various animal hosts are used to produce pAbs, with rabbits favored for their ability to respond to a wide range of antigens and typically produce the highest antibody titers within a short timeframe. Other animal species, such as goats or sheep, are also good alternatives to rabbits and may offer improved reactivity to certain classes of antigens. Oftentimes, the choice of animal host is driven by phylogenetic considerations as well as the volume of serum required to complete a project.

Rabbit IgG molecules contain two identical k (white) or l (light gray) light chains paired with two identical heavy chains. The k or l light chain contains three variable domains and one constant domain. The VL and CL chains are linked through a flexible hinge region that has the amino-acid sequence APSTCSKPTCP, or its allotypic variant, APSTCSKPMCP.

During a custom polyclonal antibody production project, New Zealand White rabbits are housed in a controlled laboratory environment with strict barrier environments that reduce the levels of background immunoglobulin and enhance pAb yields. These environments also help to minimize stress levels in the animals, resulting in more natural behavior patterns and optimal pAb responses.