Inhibition of the α and β Isoagglutinins in Anti-RH Serums

Abstract

Results and Summary

As may be seen in Table I, in the majority of serums the polysaccharide inhibited the α and β agglutinins when this was added to the serums to a concentration of 4%. The anti-Rh agglutinins remained unaltered. In serum No. 4, however, addition of polysaccharide to make a concentration of 12% was necessary in order to inhibit the β agglutinins. In serum No. 5 the β agglutinins could not be removed from the serum even after the addition of the polysaccharide to a concentration of 16%. Difficulty in removing the natural β isoagglutinins from some anti-Rh serums has been also encountered by Levine⁵ when the specific substances A and B were added to serums. Work is in progress to determine the relations that might exist between these non-absorbable natural isoantibodies and those resulting from isoimmunization to the different Rh types.

The results of this study also confirm and extend the findings of Oliver-González and Montilla indicating that the polysaccharide from Ascaris suum may be used to inhibit the α and β isoagglutinins in human serums so that they can be used to detect Rh positive and Rh negative cells.