Detection of Anti-Phage Antibody by Passive Hemagglutination

Abstract

Abstract A hemagglutination test capable of detecting 2.5 × 10-5 µg of antibody nitrogen was applied to the measurement of anti-T2 phage activity during early phases of the antibody response induced in vivo or in vitro. Using this test serum antibody was detected within 24 hr of immunization and rose rapidly, whereas conventional neutralization tests indicated a slow increase in activity. Neutralization tests in the presence of complement indicated a rise in activity with time that paralleled the increase in hemagglutination activity. Antibody induced in vitro was detected by the conventional neutralization test only with difficulty but was readily demonstrable by the hemagglutination test.