The Detection of Antibodies in Hayfever Sera by Means of Hemagglutination

Abstract

Antibodies in the sera of hayfever patients against pollen antigens can be measured, in vitro, by adsorbing the antigen onto tanned erythrocytes and using such antigen-coated cells with the patient's serum in a hemagglutination test. This technique detects antibodies mainly in the sera of hayfever patients who have received specific hyposensitization, but occasional untreated hayfever subjects also possess antibody detectable by this method. Probably both multivalent- and univalent-acting types of antibodies can be measured by this technique. Evidence is presented which indicates that the hemagglutinating antibody found in these hayfever sera is not identical with the reagin type of antibody.