Modified counterimmunoelectrophoresis procedure for easy identification of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens

Much effort is being expended to detect and to characterize the multiplicity of antibodies directed against extractable nuclear antigens in connective tissue diseases. Hemagglutination and counterimmunoelectrophoresis are highly sensitive but lack specificity and must be followed by double diffusion. Double diffusion, however, suffers from lack of sensitivity and often from lack of clarity for interpretation of the resulting precipitin lines. We describe here a modified counterimmunoelectrophoresis procedure utilizing offsetting wells, followed by diffusion, which provides the clarity of precipitin lines for easy interpretation as well as overnight interpretation and the use of small amounts of reagents.