480 THE TECHNIC OF COMPLEMENT-FIXATION REACTIONS 



TABLE 



17. ANTICOMPLEMENTARY TITRATION OF A GONOCOCCUS 

 ANTIGEN 



If the antigen is new and the anticomplementary dose is entirely 

 unknown, it may be necessary, in making this titration, to use a different 

 dilution, with higher and lower doses. In conducting the main test the 

 foregoing antigen could be used in dose of 0.2 or 0.4 c.c. of this dilution. 



The Test. The serums should be fresh and clear, and heated to 56 C. 

 for one-half hour. For each serum use four test-tubes (12 by 1 cm.), 

 arranged in a row. Into each of the first three place the dose of antigen 

 and increasing doses of serum 0.05 c.c., 0.1 c.c., 0.2 c.c.; the fourth 

 tube is the serum control, and into this is placed the maximum dose of 

 serum (0.2 c.c.) but no antigen; 1 c.c. of complement diluted 1 : 20 is 

 added to each tube. The following controls are included: 



1. A. positive control with an antigonococcus serum or with the serum 

 of a patient who reacted positively on a former occasion. 



2. A negative control with the serum of a healthy person. 



Both of these controls may be set up with but the maximum dose of 

 serum (0.2 c.c.). 



3. The serum control of each serum is conducted in the fourth tube of 

 each series. At the completion of the test this tube should show com- 

 plete hemolysis and thereby indicate that the serum was not anticom- 

 plementary. 



4. The antigen control at this time includes the dose of antigen and 

 complement. 



o. The hemolytic system control at this time receives the dose of 

 complement. 



6. The corpuscle control receives 1 c.c. of the corpuscle suspension. 

 To each tube sufficient saline solution is added to bring the total 



