Measurements of precipitin reactions by difference turbidimetry: a new method

Abstract

A new method for the measurement of precipitin and flocculation reactions between antibodies and antigens has been developed. The technique, called difference turbidimetry, involves the use of tandem cuvettes providing the opportunity of using separated and unmixed antigen and antibody as blank solutions for spectrophotometric readings in the ultraviolet wavelength range. By use of this technique genuine difference turbidity spectra have been recorded for the reaction between human serum albumin and rabbit-anti-human serum albumin IgG. It was found that difference turbidimetry at low wavelengths (e.g. 280 nm) allows the construction of precipitin curves with a very clearly expressed zoning phenomenon at a sensitivity which in terms of antigen and antibody concentrations is more than twice the sensitivity of conventional procedures. It is of special interest that the zone of equivalence differs when the same reaction between an antigen and its antibody is measured by difference turbidimetry, by absorbance of washed and redissolved precipitate, and by amount of precipitated antigen.