HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Thompson, W. R. Articles by Maltaner, F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Thompson, W. R. Articles by Maltaner, F.

On the Construction of Graphs and Tables for Evaluation of the Quantitative Complement-Fixation Reactions and Reaction Ratios

From the Division of Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany

Abstract

As a means of obtaining a measure of reactivity of sera with antigens the complement-fixation reactions have been used extensively. The aim of investigations in this laboratory has been to develop a quantitative basis for expressions of this relative reactivity with a specific antigen. Hemolysis of sensitized sheep cells has been used as the indicator of modification of complement activity in the presence of various amounts of antigen and a given serum. Several systems have been studied, and a quantitative measure in the form of an index has been employed in the case of the tuberculous, syphilitic, and gonococcal antisera reacting with prepared antigens (1, 2). Tables have been developed to facilitate evaluations, and the object of the present communication is to indicate the procedures used in their construction. As a preliminary, the fundamental relations are developed below.

Let x be the number of units of complement used in a reaction mixture, and y be the degree of hemolysis obtained.