Differential Coating of Human Red Blood Cells with C4 or C3 in a Low Ionic Strength Medium

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Abstract
An EDTA-containing, low ionic strength medium, pH 5.1, can be used for incubation of blood to obtain coating of red blood cells with C[complement]4 or C3. The coating achieved depends on incubation temperature (4 or 37.degree. C) and on whether or not CaCl2 or MgCl2 is added to the medium. The optimal concentration of EDTA appears to be 2 mM under the present conditions. This is equimolar to the final concentration of the added CaCl2/MgCl2. The choice between CaCl2 and MgCl2 depends on whether blood without anticoagulant or ACD [acid-citrate-dextrose] blood is employed. Coated cells keep satisfactorily for 5 wk at 4.degree. C in Alsever''s solution and after freezing and thawing. C3-coated cells can be converted to C3d-coated ones by incubation in normal, compatible, EDTA-containing serum at 37.degree. C.