Open AccessA Spectrophotometric Method to Precisely Determine Endpoint Titers in Complement Fixation Assays
Author(s) -
Welch Ryan J.,
Merrigan Stephen D.,
Delgado Julio C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.21509
Subject(s) - titer , complement fixation test , lysis , complement (music) , fixation (population genetics) , immunology , biology , biochemistry , antibody , serology , complementation , gene , phenotype
Since the early 20th century, complement fixation (CF) testing has been used to quantify the humoral response to various pathogens. The qualification of a positive result is based on a subjective determination of 30% lysis of sheep red blood cells, which can lead to variability in the analysis. A spectrophotometric reading of a standard with a known 30% lysis was used to standardize the currently used CF method and tested with controls and patient sera for various fungal assays. By utilizing this method a precise and non‐subjective determination of endpoint titers was achieved. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 26:190‐193, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.