The coupling of protein antigens to erythrocytes with difluorodinitrobenzene

Abstract

A sensitive indirect haemagglutination technique is described which depends upon attachment of the protein antigen to the erythrocyte with difluorodinitrobenzene. The attachment of human gamma globulin to human erythrocytes has been thoroughly studied using sera containing the Rose-Waaler factor as the agglutinator. It has also been shown that horse and rabbit serum proteins and egg white may be attached to cells by the reagent.

The technique is simple and sensitive but an absorption step is necessary to remove a non-specific agglutinin to cells which have been treated with the reagent.