DETECTION OF IMMUNE-COMPLEXES BY A NEW ASSAY, THE POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL PRECIPITATION-COMPLEMENT CONSUMPTION TEST (PEG-CC)

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 36  (1) , 117-129
Abstract
A new assay for the detection of [human] circulating immune complexes, the PEG-CC, was described. The test is simple, sensitive and exhibits a high degree of specificity. Immune complexes were first isolated from serum by precipitation in 2.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG) and concentrated. They were then assayed functionally by measuring their ability to fix complement [C] using a sensitive kinetic assay for total hemolytic C. The test detected aggregated Ig[immunoglobulin]G in serum at concentrations around 6.0 .mu.g/ml (about 2.0 .mu.g absolute). Using DNA-anti-DNA and ovalbumin-anti-ovalbumin immune complexes prepared in vitro, antigen concentrations less than 0.5 .mu.g/ml were detected. Interference by endogenous C, polyanions and other factors in test sera was virtually eliminated by the design of the assay. The increased specificity of the PEG-CC test for immune complexes should be useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of immune complex-mediated diseases.

This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit: