The in Vitro Detection of “Cell-Fixed” Hemagglutinating Antibodies to Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) in Humans

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Abstract
Summary: Extracts of the washed peripheral blood leukocytes of all adult human subjects studied were found to contain hemagglutinating antibodies to tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD). Subjects with positive tuberculin skin tests had significantly higher titers of these “cell-fixed” hemagglutinating antibodies to tuberculin PPD than did tuberculin skin test negative subjects. The finding of low titers of “cell-fixed” antibodies in tuberculin skin test negative subjects may reflect minor degrees of tuberculin hypersensitivity not detected by skin testing, or may be due to cross-reactivity with Mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The “cell-fixed” antibodies are probably adsorbed from the serum of the leukocyte donor. No hemagglutinating antibodies to tuberculin PPD were found in sera or leukocytes obtained from the umbilical cord blood of newborn infants. The relationship between “cell-fixed” hemagglutinating antibodies to tuberculin PPD and “transfer factor” was not established in this investigation.