FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PRECIPITIN TEST IN THE DETERMINATION OF BLOOD MEALS OF INSECTS

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Abstract
Certain factors influence the performance of precipitin tests when the latter are used for detection of blood meals of biting flies. Antisera stored in a liquid state in a refrigerator generally show a decrease in titer with the passage of time. Aging appears to have an adverse effect on the avidity of an antiserum. Smears of blood-engorged mosquitoes prepared by smearing of the entire insect are satisfactory for testing by the precipitin reaction. A high-titered antiserum which can be diluted is desirable for detection of host blood in mosquitoes.

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