XI, B, 1 



Ruediger: Preservation of Human Serum 



Table I shows that sera 4318 and 4319, which gave negative 

 results with the Wassermann reaction before formalin was 

 added, also gave negative results after formalin had been added. 

 Serum 4326, which before formalin was added gave a strong 

 positive result, gave a negative result on the seventh day and 

 on the twelfth day after the formalin had been added. Serum 

 4328 gave a strong positive result before formalin was added 

 and a faintly positive result on the seventh day and on the 

 twelfth day after the formalin had been added. All sera were 

 bacteriologically sterile. 



TEST 2 



Serum preserved by formalin tested by the Wassei-mann 

 method. — Specimens 4401, 4403, 4404, and 4405 were secured 

 on October 29, 1915. The sera were drawn off the clots on Octo- 

 ber 30, 1915. Each serum was divided into two portions, A 

 and B. Portion A received no formalin; it was tested by the 

 Wassermann method and by the Tschernogubow modification of 

 the Wassermann reaction on October 30, 1915. Portion B was 

 mixed with an equal volume of 1 : 500 solution of formalin in 

 physiologic salt solution and was tested on November 7, 1915, 

 by the Wassermann method and by the Tschernogubow modifi- 

 cation of the Wassermann reaction before and after it had been 

 heated. Each serum was examined bacteriologically. 



Table II. — The influence of formalin on the Wassermann reaction. 



No. of 

 serum. 



4401 



4403 



4404 



4405 



Date 

 secured. 



1915, 

 Oct. 



29 



-do ... 



..do ... 



.do. 



Por- 

 tion. 



Date 

 heated. 



1915. 

 Oct. 30 



Nov. 



7 



Oct. 



30 



Nov. 



7 



Oct. 



30 



Nov. 



7 



Oct. 



30 



Nov. 7 



Date 

 tested. 



1915. 

 Oct. 30 

 Nov. 7 



...do— . 

 Oct. 30 

 Nov. 7 



...do...- 

 Oct. 30 



Nov. 7 



...do.... 



Oct. 30 



Nov. 7 



...do.— 



Se- 

 rum. 



cc. 

 0.1 

 0.1 

 0.1 

 0.1 

 0.1 

 0.1 

 0.1 



0.1 

 0.1 

 0.1 

 0.1 

 0.1 



Am- 

 bo- 

 cep- 

 tor. 



Unit. 

 1.0 

 1.0 

 1.0 

 1.0 

 1.0 

 1.0 

 1.0 



1.0 

 1.0 

 1.0 

 1.0 

 1.0 



Tube- 



1 2 3 1' 2' 3' 



Result. 



Weakly positive. 



Do. 

 Negative. 

 Strongly positive. 

 Weakly positive. 

 Negative. 

 Moderately posi- 

 tive. 

 Weakly positive. 

 Negative. 

 Weakly positive. 



Do. 

 Negative. 



