The Nature of the So-Called Conglutination Reaction (Bordet-Streng)

Abstract

Summary: The adsorption (fixation) of complement midpiece by antigen-antibody suspensions (sensitized red cells or bacteria; specific precipitate) causes a change in their surface properties, evidenced by an increased tendency to cohesion and flocculation. So-called conglutination is simply a specific instance of this general property of complement-midpiece, involving sensitized cells and the slight quantities of midpiece present in heated sera. Since the terms conglutinin and conglutination do not define a distinctive substance or reaction, it is suggested that they be dropped from immunologic nomenclature.