Hapten binding assay using guinea pig macrophages.

An assay for testing the binding of haptens to antigen-presenting cells was developed. The test consists of consecutive incubation of macrophages with the tested hapten, followed by incubation with a radioactively labeled standard. If the first hapten occupies a certain number of binding sites, the other one (radioactively labeled standard) reveals reduced binding. The binding assay in the present modification is fully suitable for measuring the binding of water-soluble haptens. It was found that from a panel of tested haptens, DNFB, beta-bromostyrol and phenylacetaldehyde exhibit strong binding.