PENICILLIN ANTIBODY IN MATERNAL AND CORD BLOODS AND ITS POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP TO HYPERSENSITIVITY

Abstract

The technique of the bis-diazotized benzidine (BDB) haemag-glutination for detection of penicillin antibodies is described. Maternal and cord-blood sera were examined in a comparative study with the above method and with the method of Ley, Harris, Brinkley, Liles, Jack and Cahan (1958). Two properties of the antibody are demonstrated, namely (a) the antibodies measured with the BDB haemagglutina-tion test are not transferable via the placenta, whereas the antibody measured with the Ley test is passively transferred from mother to foetus in utero, and (b) cross-absorption tests show the antibodies to possess at least two different specificities. The possible implication of the circulating penicillin antibody in hypersensitivity is discussed.