An Example of Polyagglutinability Due to the Tn Antigen

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Abstract
Summary. A case of atypical polyagglutinability due to the Tn antigen is described. The patient, although apparently healthy, has leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Her cells presented the usual difficulties of polyagglutinable cells due to the presence of anti‐Tn in typing reagents whether of human or animal origin. The practical advantages, particularly in ABO typing, of using papain to destroy the T and Tn receptors has been demonstrated. Anti‐Tn, like anti‐T, is a 19S and probably a γM globulin.It has been clearly shown that Tn cells differ from T‐activated polyagglutinable cells and Cad positive cells, but it has not been possible to convert normal cells to Tn cells. Certain aspects of both typical and atypical polyagglutinability have been discussed.