[On the chloranilic acid reaction (RAC) proposed by Closs (author's transl)]

On the serum of 3790 patients (2131 women and 1659 male), aged from 3 days to 84 years, the RAC has been performed at the same time with the Mc Lagan's Kunkel's and Takata's reactions. The test of sulfobromophthalein's excretion has been performed in 246 of these patients. Between RAC and T.D., disagreement has been observed in 111 cases (- 2,9%). RAC positive and T.D. negative occurred in 68 cases; T.D. positive and RAC negative in the other 43. Repetition of the RAC on 100 sera (after complement inactivation at 56 degrees C for 30 min; after permanence at 4 degrees C for 7 days; after congealment at -18 degrees C) has always given the same results obtained on fresh sera. The complement, therefore, has no way influence on the RAC. The study of disagreeing cases has shown the RAC become positive for: 1) an apperance in serum of abnormal lipoproteins (chloestasis, cholangitis, some dislipemias), 2) a rise in gamma-M (biliary cirrhosis, macroglobulinaemia, lymphatic chronic leukema); 3) 1 and 2. It is always necessary to perform T.D. and RAC on the same serum, because these two test express different modification of the serum-proteins picture. Their agreement, or their disagreement, is very important in every single case, particularly in the diagnostic of jaundice and of bilary ducts pathology.