Hemagglutination test for alpha fetoprotein in the diagnosis of primary liver carcinoma

By means of the treatment of the globulin obtained from the monophasic anti-alphaFP serum with pepsin, it has been found to be able to sensitize tannic acid-treated human red blood cells. The sensitivity of the HA test, either on purified alphaFP or with sera from patients with primary liver carcinoma, was found to be favourable as compared with the serological methods commonly employed, such as double diffusion, countercurrent electrophoresis, and complement fixation tests. From a preliminary clinical application on 566 routine specimens obtained from various local hospitals, somewhat greater sensitivity of the HA test was confirmed. Blood specimens from persons known to be free from primary liver carcinoma, namely, 408 from blood donors, 32 from pregnant women, 19 from malignant tumours other than primary liver carcinoma and 5 from benign tumours patients, were all negative except 15 sera from pregnant women. It is well known that the serum alphaFP level of pregnant women is definitely higher than that of normal adults. The specificity of the test has thus been considered established. As the HA test can be carried out with a drop of blood and completed in 30 minutes with simple implements, it is suggested that the method should be suitable for screening test in mass survey in the village and countryside.