Pooled Sheep Cells for use in the Hemolytic System of the Complement-Fixation Test

Abstract

Pooled, preserved sheep blood has been used as a source of erythrocytes in the quantitative complement-fixation test. Sheep serum exhibiting lytic activity has been encountered. Pre-testing for compatibility of sheep blood has been found to be necessary before pooling can be instituted unless cells are combined after washing to remove serum constituents. A uniform activity, not obtained with blood from a single sheep, has resulted from the use of pooled blood in the complement-fixation test, and standardization of the hemolytic system has been greatly simplified.