The Development of Monoclonal Antibody Against Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone for Congenital Hypothyroidism Screening in Indonesia

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a major health issue that can lead to intellectual disability if not detected and treated earlier. The preliminary screening program for neonatal CH in Indonesia gave a provisional incidence of 1:2513. Newborn screening using a dried blood spot sample is the standard method for CH detection, but it has limitations. Despite the proven benefits of CH screening, Indonesia still faces significant challenges in implementing a nationwide program. This study aimed to develop a more sensitive and accessible screening method by creating monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).TSH protein was isolated from newborn cord blood and confirmed by Western blot analysis. Mice were immunized with purified TSH, and hybridoma cell lines were generated through cell fusion. Hybridoma supernatants were screened for TSH-specific antibodies using ELISA. The mAb with the highest titer was purified by dialysis. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of TSH in the isolated protein fraction at 28 kDa. Immunized mice showed a significant increase in antibody titer compared with the control group. Hybridoma clones secreting high-titer antibodies against TSH were identified. This research successfully isolated TSH and produced mAbs against it. They enable the development of rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests, such as lateral flow immunoassays, which can provide results within minutes. It will lay the groundwork for the development of innovative CH screening tools that can significantly improve the early diagnosis and treatment of this condition, particularly in resource-limited settings.