PASSIVE HAEMAGGLUTINATION FOR ESTIMATION OF EARLY AND LATE ANTI-HUMAN GAMMA-GLOBULIN ANTIBODIES

Abstract

The influence of various concentrations of human [gamma]-globulin (HGG) employed to sensitize tanned sheep erythrocytes on haemagglutination titers with various early and late mouse and rabbit antisera to HGG has been studied. The concentration of HGG employed to sensitize tanned erythrocytes which gives the highest hemagglutination titers with early, mercapto-ethanolsensitive antibodies was not optimal for obtaining highest hemagglutination titers with late, mercaptoethanol-insensitive antibodies. Similar results were obtained with heavy and light sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation fractions of a late and early rabbit antiserum. These findings may account for past discrepancies and should be considered when employing the hemagglutination test to detect early and late antibodies.