Co-immunoprecipitation is an extension of IP that is based on the potential of IP reactions to capture and purify the primary target (i.e., the antigen) as well as other macromolecules that are bound to the target by native interactions in the sample solution. Therefore, whether or not an experiment is called an IP or co-IP depends on whether the focus of the experiment is the primary target (antigen) or secondary targets (interacting proteins).