We describe and demonstrate a technique for detection of cell surface antigens, with potential use in tissue antigen research. Briefly, a small volume of wetted chromatographic beads (specifically, 100 mu L of Nickel-nitriloacetic acid (NTA) agarose) was bound to small quantities (specifically, similar to 0.1-0.2 mu g) of a single-chain Fv antibody recognizing the Class I MHC heavy chain antigen. The beads were then used to capture and detect cells bearing this antigen, through SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of boiled bead-cell complexes. A key feature of this method is its use of "signal amplification." Although the antibody-mediated binding and immobilization of intact cells involves relatively small numbers of antibodies, and cells, what is being detected is simply the presence of cells. Each bound cell contains a number of abundant proteins that are present in millions of copies per cell, and the abundance of these proteins ensures that they are detectable on SDS-PAGE, signaling cell-binding. As few as 10(10)-10(12) scFv antibodies immobilized on 100 mu L of Ni-NTA beads are thus enough for the trapping of enough cells to allow visualization of their abundant proteins. Conceptually, this method could be easily developed and applied to detection of cells bearing any other cell specific antigen. (C) 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 26: 1544-1550, 2010