The Quantitative Determination of the Extent of Despeciation of Modified Equine Antitoxin

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: A method is presented for estimating the relative reactivity with respect to horse serum of antitoxins processed from horse plasma, by observing skin reactions of sensitized rabbits. It is feasible to test 4 preparations, each on 3 rabbits, with standard fiducial limits of from 53% to 188% of the true value. As the sensitizing dose was increased, the relative reactivity of a given test material appeared greater. The function was asymptotic at higher dose levels. The greater the sensitizing dose, the smaller was the variance of the relative reactivity within its replicates. Movement of control and test reaction diameters in opposite directions of magnitude upon a second skin challenge demonstrated simultaneous partial desensitization to normal horse serum and sensitization to the modified antigen consequent upon the first challenge. Incubation periods between sensitization and skin challenge of 2, 3, and 4 weeks made no difference in values obtained for relative reactivity. Relative skin reactivity of various preparations as determined in sensitized rabbits showed correlation with anaphylactic tests in guinea pigs. The less reactive of 2 materials compared in human subjects was also the less reactive when compared by the rabbit skin test.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: