Observations on Mechanism and Prevention of Non-Specific Agglutination of Leukocytes.

Abstract

Fibrinogen and other plasma proteins are apparently adsorbed on the hydrophilic surface of normal leukocytes, thereby complicating the interpretation of leuko-agglutinin tests. Normal leukocytes separated from whole blood (but not leukocytes separated from defibrinated blood) were rapidly and non-specifically agglutinated when suspended in normal untreated serum. Polymerization of adsorbed fibrinogen appeared to be the mechanism of such non-specific agglutination, which could be prevented by adequate decalcification of the suspending serum. The addition of ethyienediaminetetraacetate to all test sera has permitted construction of a satisfactory leuko-agglutinin test using white cells separated from whole blood.