[Barbital buffer in tablets as a solvent for complement fixation test (CFT)]

The purpose of this paper was to develop a tableting technology of barbital buffer as a standard diluent easy in use for complement fixation test (CFT). As starting point, barbital (veronal) buffer after Alton et al. [1] was assumed. Among 4 solubilizers polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP 10 000) was chosen, which provided a good solubility of the barbital in distilled water at 20 degrees C and it affected favourably the complement activity (C'). PVP 10 000 added to the components of barbital buffer at an amount of 0.275 per 10 tablets, in the form of solution for granulation, provided the required physical properties of the tablets. As compared with the barbital buffer after Alton et al. [1], the tablets produced affected favourably C' activity, decreased the range of spontaneous haemocyte lysis, and they did not effect CFT titers of two anti-Brucella abortus standard sera as well as 77 sera of cattle infected with brucellosis under natural conditions. The described physical and biological properties of the barbital buffer tablets with PVP addition indicate their usability as diluent for CFT. A standard diluent used in the form of tablets in all Poland's laboratories should provide a better reproducibility of CFT results in diagnostic examinations towards brucellosis as well as other infectious diseases in men and animals.