The Reactions Between Normal Human Red Cells and Antiglobulin (Coombs) Serum

Abstract

It is demonstrated that normal red cells are capable of reacting with antiglobulin (Coombs) serum so as to reduce its power to agglutinate Rh sensitized cells. The reaction is shown to be a specific combination between antiglobulin antibody and a globulin-like antigen on the normal cell surface. This antigen may be modified by the action of trypsin in such a way as to render it non-reactive, but the reactivity of the cell may be restored by treatment with normal human serum.