[Determination of immune antitetanus antibodies using hemagglutination tests]

The active immunization by the in vitro method was analyzed with the aim to assess whether it can be recommended for the judgement of the immune status of the individuals. The technique developed by Boyden was used: the examinee's blood serum was mixed with sheep (or human) erythrocytes which were carriers of tetanus toxoids, agglutination developed and the reaction was read after 2 and then after 4 hours. The agglutination titre was expressed in IU/ml calculated by means of parallely titred working serum (human tetanus immunoglobulin). Three hundred and sixty-five serum samples from 258 immunized persons (183 males and 75 females) and 20 nonimmunized controls with the range of ages between 10 and 65 years were examined. Fifty-one serum samples were simultaneously tested by the in vivo neutralization test (mice), the so-called "L+" method. The examinees immunized by the classic method had antitoxin level above 0.01 IU/ml for at least 5 years and more. The group of examined persons with the incomplete classic immunization (2 injections) showed a very similar antitoxin level in 91.2% of the cases. Equal results were obtained for a group of examinees with simultaneous immunization (antitoxic serum+tetanus adsorbate and 2 adsorbate injections in succession). The examinees who had a history of only one tetanus adsorbate injection had antitoxin levels above 0.01 IU/ml in 18.75% of the cases. The examinees with the so-called accelerated immunization showed antitoxin concentration above 0.01 IU/ml in a greater percentage (28.6%), but the level decreased very quickly and it was below 0.01 IU/ml already after one year.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)