Autoagglutination caused by powerful IgM cold autoagglutinins can be dispersed by sulphydryl compounds to provide an unagglutinated red blood cell suspension suitable for immunohematologic testing. For this 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol is added to twice washed red blood cells. Following agitation for 10 minutes at 37 C an unagglutinated red blood cell suspension is obtained without adverse effect to red blood cell antigens and without removal of in vivo bound IgG or complement. Dithiothreital may be substituted for 2-mercaptoethanol if the incubation time is increased to 15 minutes.
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M. E. Reid (1978) studied this question.
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