Abstract: The invention relates to a method of obtaining an antibody with a desired function, the method comprising: a) bringing a population of B cells into contact with a capturing agent; b) separating the captured B cells from the uncaptured B cells; c) culturing a plurality of captured B cells wherein said B cells have not been sorted into single B cells immediately prior to culturing; d) screening a plurality of the cultured cells to identify cells capable of producing an antibody with the desired function; and e) obtaining the desired antibody therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a homogeneous assay for identifying an antibody producing cell producing an antibody which binds to a selected antigen comprising: a) providing a population of antibody producing cells; b) incubating said population of antibody producing cells with a selected antigen and a labeled anti-antibody antibody, wherein said anti-antibody antibody is capable of distinguishing cells producing an antibody which binds to the selected antigen from those cells which do not; and c) identifying an antibody producing cell capable of producing an antibody which binds to the selected antigen.