A HEMOLYTIC MODIFICATION OF THE HEMAGGLUTINATION TEST FOR ANTIBODIES AGAINST TUBERCLE BACILLUS ANTIGENS

Abstract

Human erythrocytes treated with an "old tuberculin" prepn. can be used to detect in homologous human serum antibodies against specific components of tubercle bacilli. When fresh, unheated, human serum of tuberculous individuals was used in this hemagglutination test, hemolysis of the sensitized red cells was often observed in low dilutions of the test serum. This was shown to be due to the presence of complement. Thus, erythrocytes onto which a specific antigen has been adsorbed can be lysed by complement and specific antibody for the adsorbed antigen[long dash]a novel type of serologic reaction. Comparative studies of the sera of tuberculous patients have indicated that the hemagglutination test and its hemolytic modification do not necessarily measure the same serologic properties; this is interpreted as evidence that these tests do not necessarily measure the same antibodies.