The complement fixation test in syphilis, commonly known as the Wassermann test.

  • Great Britain. Ministry of Health
Date:
1920
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The complement fixation test in syphilis, commonly known as the Wassermann test. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    v7 TABLE XXXII. ComeLEMENT Frxation in Ice-cuest for 32 hours, 162 hours, and 24 hours. 1 vol. Antigen 1: 160 (Ext. 1 saturated with cholesterin in the cold). 1 vol. Complement ranging from 1: 50 to 1:8. 1 vol. Serum ranging from 1 :5 to 1 : 160, Serum Dilutions. Duration Complement of I¢e- Dilution. | | | chest, 1:5 | 1:10 | 1:20 | 1:40 | 1:80 |1:160| Fixation. | | | 1 28 Cc ¢ C c c Con) Eee C c Cc c Cc Cc | Pate c c c @ c c : ea eer ane Mer be re C Gas 1:25 ee + + + |++4]} 1250 20 20 20 0 20 fey Les Sa TOES eae ee a ¢ C e |) | ial eee ft 4+ ?e c c | Lert? ar ae = ae ab oP Cc Cc . 163 hrs 1:15 D4: ? tr ? tr tr [++++) 2¢ | f 4 1: 25 0 0 0 0 ? tr tr 150 0 0 0 0 0 0 hee oP ae acral reeset fae C Chae) ae + + ++ [++4++ < ei sey tr CE tr +++ Cc c 115 2 tr ? tr ? tr Eh ie erie 1 pe } 24 hrs. 1: 25 0 0 0 0 20 tr || 1:50 0 0 0 Veh ho 0 Orely These experiments, we consider, support our conception both of the role of cholesterin and of the nature of the reacting substances in syphilitic serum. They indicate also that, while the essential reaction, that between the hpoids of organ extract and the syphilitic reacting body, is most probably of a chemical nature, yet its consequences and their effect on the lytic power of complement when present in the reacting mixture are subject to the same laws as govern the reactions between other forms of matter in the colloidal condition.
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