title: Antigen-specific detection of soluble immune complexes in conglutinin-binding assays.
abstract: A modification of the conglutinin-binding assay has been used for antigen identification in circulating immune complexes (IC). The complexed antigen was identified, in conglutinin-bound complexes, by antibodies or antibody fragments, specifically directed against the antigen. These antibody preparations were either radiolabelled or detected with 125I-protein A. This system was found efficient using in vitro-formed bovine serum albumin--anti-bovine serum albumin and tetanus toxoid--anti-tetanus toxoid soluble immune complexes at equivalence or at slight antigen or antibody excess. In addition, with 125I-IgG--anti-HBs and with 125I-F(ab')2--anti-HBs, we examined 44 sera from 41 patients with viral type B hepatitis and the presence of HBs was observed in 18 (40.9%) IC containing tested samples. Therefore, this method appears applicable to clinical investigation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000941:Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens