XI, B, 1 Ruediger: Preservation of Human Serum 17 



Table X shows that the serum mixed with glycerin was 

 slightly anticomplementary. This anticomplementary property 

 did not affect the result obtained with the test. 



CONCLUSIONS 



Formalin is not a suitable preservative for serum intended for 

 the Wassermann reaction. Sera that gave moderately positive 

 results before formalin was added gave negative results, or 

 nearly negative results, a week after the formalin had been 

 added. 



Glycerin kept the sera sterile and did not noticeably influence 

 the Wassermann reaction nor the Tschemogubow modification 

 of the Wassermann reaction. 



Unheated, old sera were strongly anticomplementary. Fresh 

 sera that were heated to 55° C. for thirty minutes before they 

 were mixed with glycerin did not become anticomplementary 

 in eleven days. 



Fresh sera that were heated to 55° C. after they had been mixed 

 with glycerin were anticomplementary on the eleventh day after 

 the heating. 



Nearly all unheated sera that were mixed with glycerin and 

 were kept at room temperature became permanently anticom- 

 plementary. Anticomplementary sera could be tested provided 

 the amboceptor was increased. 



The anticomplementary property did not alter the result ob- 

 tained with the Wassermann reaction or with the Tschemogu- 

 bow modification of the Wassermann reaction. 



A mixture of equal parts of glycerin and serum was slightly 

 anticomplementary as compared with the serum alone. 



140085 2 



