Relation between serum and antigen in precipitation reaction for syphilis proposed by author

Abstract

The optimum relation between serum and antigen in the precipitation test for syphilis proposed by the author has been observed to be in the neighborhood of 4:1. On the basis of this relation one may employ 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 or 0.1 c.c. of serum with 0.1, 0.075, 0.05 or 0.025 c.c. of antigen respectively with similar results. This relation holds true also with smaller quantities than 0.1 c.c. Thus 0.04 c.c. of serum with 0.01 c.c. of antigen has been found to give results comparable with 0.4 c.c. of serum and 0.1 c.c. of antigen. Increasing the amount of antigen beyond this relation tends to delay precipitation, while the employment of equal amounts of serum and antigen will inhibit the reaction in some cases.