The Indirect Complement Fixation, Hemagglutination and Conglutinating Complement Absorption Tests for Viruses of the Psittacosis-Lymphogranuloma Venereum Group

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Abstract
Summary: Three new tests for demonstrating antibody against viruses of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma venereum group are described. These are the indirect complement fixation test, which detects inhibitory antibody for these viruses in the sera of chickens, the hemagglutination inhibition technique for testing human and chicken sera and the conglutinating complement absorption test for use with sera from patients. The possible application of the indirect complement fixation and agglutination inhibition tests to the study of infection with these viruses in avian populations is discussed. The relative merits and demerits of the three tests as compared with the ordinary complement fixation test are also reviewed. Theoretical considerations regarding the mechanism of the indirect complement fixation test, the nature of the meningopneumonitis hemagglutinin and the inhibition of hemagglutination by calcium ion are discussed.