THE WHOLE BLOOD TEST FOR PULLORUM DISEASE 5 



It is mentioned that factors peculiar to field conditions apparently are operating 

 which influence the efficiency of the whole blood method. The authors conclude 

 that the efficiency of the whole blood (stained antigen) test will not permit, of its 

 exclusive use in a program of pullorum-disease eradication, and that official 

 recognition should be reserved to the tube test results until the whole blood test 

 has been perfected to the point where its efficiency equals that of the tube test. 





Figure 1. The Whole Blood Agglutination Test. 

 The mixtures in the squares on the left show a negative reaction; the mixtures on the right 

 show a positive reaction. 



TECHNIQUE OF TESTING METHODS USED 



Whole Blood Method. The antigen employed was prepared according to the 

 procedure recommended by U. S. B. A. I., U. S. Patent No. 1,816,026, with a 

 slight modification. The organisms were cultivated on nutrient meat extract 

 agar instead of meat infusion agar. The pullorum antigen strains selected by 

 the Antigen Committee of the Pullorum Conference of the Northeastern States 

 were employed. An improvised testing apparatus was used, consisting of a wooden 

 box, insulated with Celotex and lined with metal. The antigen and blood were 

 placed on a glass slide which fitted into a removable frame covered with glass to 

 serve as a protection against dust and to retain the heat. A temperature between 

 85° and 95° F. was maintained by two (paint coated) electric bulbs, controlled 

 by a thermostat. An electric bulb provided a sufficient and constant supply of 

 light. The antigen was placed on the glass slide with a special pipette, which 

 delivered approximately .045 cc. The blood was measured with a wire loop which 

 conveyed approximately 0.35 to .04 cc. The blood was added to the antigen and 

 mixed with the wire loop. At definite intervals the frame holding the test plate 

 was rotated. The results of the tests were recorded following three minutes' 

 incubation. 



