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VARIATIONS IN THE COMPLEMENT ACTIVITY AND FIXABILITY OF GUINEA PIG SERUM
1Laboratories of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, New York.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Guinea pig serum exhibits variable complementary activity and fixability, impacting diagnostic tests like the Wassermann reaction. Careful standardization is crucial for reliable results in complement fixation assays.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Complementary activity in guinea pig serum is essential for immune responses.
- Variability in serum components can affect the accuracy of diagnostic assays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the variability in complementary activity and serum fixability in guinea pig serum.
- To assess the implications of this variability for diagnostic applications, such as the Wassermann reaction.
Main Methods:
- Experiments involving guinea pig serum incubated with clot for varying durations (20 and 46 hours).
- Quantitative analysis of complementary activity and the amount of serum fixed by antigen.
- Comparison of results across different serum specimens.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in complementary activity were observed, with ratios up to 4.6:1 between strongest and weakest sera.
- Serum fixability showed even greater variability, with one sample failing to fix and another fixing 2.4 times the average amount.
- No direct correlation was found between complementary activity and serum fixability.
- Approximately 50% of specimens fell within the normal fixability range, increasing to 65.8% with an expanded definition.
Conclusions:
- Guinea pig serum exhibits inherent variability in both complementary activity and fixability.
- These variations pose significant challenges for quantitative complement fixation tests, including the Wassermann reaction.
- Standardization and careful assessment of serum fixability are critical for accurate diagnostic outcomes.
