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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Determining the Reactivity and Titre of Serum using a Haemagglutination Assay
Published on: January 29, 2010
[Determination of immune antitetanus antibodies using hemagglutination tests]
1Staatliches Medizinaluntersuchungsamt Fulda (D), Republicki fond mirovinskog i invalidskog osiguranja radnika Hrvatske.
Insights
The in vitro agglutination test effectively assesses tetanus immunity, correlating well with in vivo methods. This method provides a reliable assessment of immune status following various immunization schedules.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Serology
- Vaccinology
Context:
- Assessing immune status is crucial for public health.
- Tetanus immunization requires reliable methods for monitoring antibody levels.
- Existing in vivo methods for tetanus antitoxin assessment are resource-intensive.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of an in vitro agglutination method for determining tetanus antitoxin levels.
- To compare the in vitro method's results with established in vivo neutralization tests.
- To assess the immune status of individuals based on different tetanus immunization protocols.
Summary:
- An in vitro agglutination test using sheep or human erythrocytes sensitized with tetanus toxoids was developed.
- The study analyzed 365 serum samples from immunized and non-immunized individuals, comparing results with the in vivo "L+" neutralization test.
- The in vitro method showed reliable correlation with in vivo tests, indicating its suitability for assessing tetanus immunity across various immunization histories.
Impact:
- Provides a practical and accessible in vitro alternative for routine tetanus immune status assessment.
- Facilitates monitoring of long-term immunity post-vaccination.
- Supports informed decisions regarding booster immunizations and public health strategies.
Abstract:
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)
