Serologic Identification of Species of Origin of Sausage Meats

SUMMARY: A partially purified immunoglobulin G (lgG) solution prepared from the serum of species to be tested was heated to the specifications for sausages. The resulting supernatant fluid was decanted and the precipitate washed with saline and used to immunize rabbits. The supernatant fluid was used to sensitize tanned sheep red blood cells. The immune serum was rendered monospecific by absorptions with heterologous, heated lgG precipitates. A sample of monospecific immune serum was absorbed with a washed homogenate of sausage. Aliquots of the monospecific immune serum, both untreated and sausage absorbed, were tested with cells sensitized with the homologous heated lgG supematant fluid. A significant reduction of titer by sausage absorption indicated that the sausages contained the meat homologous to the immune serum.