Adaptation of the Antiglobulin Test for Use with Tannic Acid Treated Erythrocytes

Abstract

A method of adapting the antiglobulin test for use with tannic acid treated erythrocytes is described. Prevention of nonspecific globulin adsorption from the antiserum by preliminary incubation of the sensitized, tanned cells with serum of another species is the essential feature of this procedure. The conditions required by the method are given in detail, and results are reported employing rabbit and human antisera. The method has proved sensitive and specific, and the results have been reproducible. However, the antisera titers have not been so high as those obtained with the direct tanned cell technique of Boyden when read by the pattern of cells sedimented in the bottom of tubes. The present method has usefulness in the study of antisera which ordinarily fail to give direct hemagglutination reactions with sensitized, tanned erythrocytes.