‘False positive’ complement fixation with psittacosis—trachoma antigens due to antibodies in complement preparations

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Abstract
Complement-fixation tests with psittacosis-trachoma group antigens, if set up with complement prepared from guinea-pigs cross-infected with any of the Bedsonia agents, may give completely false positive results. The use of C.F. positive or C.F. inhibition positive samples of guinea-pig sera as a source of complement can induce also a significant increase or decrease, respectively, of the actual C.F. titres in Bedsonia-positive serum samples tested. Observations made both in routine serology and in experimental studies show the necessity of testing carefully, for possible presence of Bedsonia titres, individual sera of guinea-pigs intended for use as source of complement in C.F. tests performed with Bedsonia group antigens.I have pleasure in thanking Dr F. B. Gordon and Dr E. Weiss for the valuable suggestions made and HM3 C.O. Wiese for the technical assistance.