Evaluation of the Albumin Antiglobulin Technic in Antibody Detection

Studies were made of 363 sera containing specific antibodies in order to determine the influence of cell suspending media and time of incubation on the sensitivity of the anti‐globulin test. A comparison was made between the strength of the antiglobulin reaction when pooled test cells were suspended (1) in bovine albumin and (2) in saline. A duplicate set of tests compared incubation times of 15 minutes and one hour. Results obtained with the 162 sera tested indicate that the albumin medium for suspending the test cells is superior to the saline medium at either incubation time. A second series was similar except that test cells were used individually and a 30 minute incubation was included in tests of some sera. The results with the 201 sera in this part of the study indicate no loss of sensitivity of the anti‐globulin test at a shortened incubation time of 15 minutes provided the test cells were suspended in bovine albumin.