Which type of antibody is typically used in medical diagnostics due to its cloned nature?

Monoclonal antibodies are widely utilized in medical diagnostics due to their cloned nature, which allows for the production of identical copies that target a specific antigen. These antibodies are derived from a single clone of immune cells, ensuring that they have consistent specificity and affinity for the same epitope. This uniformity is particularly beneficial in diagnostic applications, such as in assays and tests, where accurate detection is crucial.

The use of monoclonal antibodies enables more precise and reliable results because each batch of the antibody has the same characteristics. In contrast, polyclonal antibodies consist of a mixture of different antibodies produced by various immune cell clones, which can lead to variability in specificity and potential cross-reactivity with unintended targets. Meanwhile, IgG and IgM refer to classes of antibodies with distinct functions and characteristics rather than the methodology involved in their production. Thus, monoclonal antibodies are preferred in diagnostics for their reliability and specificity.