Hemagglutination Reactions of Human Erythrocytes Conjugated Covalently with Dinitrophenyl Groups

Abstract

A hemagglutination system has been described which employs direct coupling of 1,3-difluoro 2,4-dinitrobenzene (FDNFB) to the red cell surface, obviating the need for a protein carrier of the hapten, which is required in passive hemagglutination systems now commonly being used. The system is suitable for detection of anti-dinitrophenyl antibodies and cross-reacting antipicryl antibodies; it is equal in sensitivity to the method of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and is simple in execution. Under certain conditions of time and hapten-coupling concentration, FDNFB-coupled erythrocytes were found to be most sensitive for detection of homologous and cross-reacting anti-picryl antibody of both rabbit and guinea pig origins. The stability of the hapten-erythrocyte bond was not disturbed by extensive dialysis of the cells. Picryl chloride and DNCB could not be coupled to red cells successfully, presumably because of a lower order of reactivity of these compounds.