A Sensitive Gelatin Agglutination Test for Detecting Antisperm Agglutinins.

Abstract

An improved macroscopic agglutination test for the detection of agglutinins against human spermatozoa is briefly descr. The test employs an antigen of actively motile spermatozoa and a viscous medium in the form . of 2.5% gelatin. This medium prevents dissolution of the weakly bound sperm agglutinates in the higher antiserum dilutions and retards sedimentation so as to render resuspension unnecessary. Titers obtained with this method were over 100-fold higher than those obtained with the usual agglutinative technics. The basic principle of the test would seem to have a general application to any agglutination procedure involving large motile organisms where the agglutinates formed are so fragile as to be readily disrupted by shaking or jarring.