A Method for Measuring Different Classes of Human Immunoglobulins Specific for the Penicilloyl Group.

A method is described for the detection of human irnmunoglobulins of the four main classes specific for the penicilloyl group. The technique is an adaptation of the red cell linked antigen antiglobulin reaction based on the finding that benzyl penicilloylated rabbit γ-globulin, specific for human erythrocytes, reacted specifically with erythrocytes but did not agglutinate them. In turn this complex reacted specifically with human penicilloyl antibody and it was then possible to titrate each immunoglobulin class by the addition of anti-immunoglobulin sera. The method described here was used to compare titres of penicilloyl specific immunoglobulins of the same class between different sera. The test was found to be less sensitive than the hapten modified bacteriophage reduction test but had the advantage that individual immunoglobulin classes could be compared. In the absence of a reliable method for the diagnosis of penicillin allergy, it is hoped that the technique described will be a useful addition to existing in vivo and in vitro methods of determining the antibody response of the patient to the penicilloyl group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]