RAPID-DETERMINATION OF IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO ANTIBODY-RESPONSES BY SUSPENSION HEMOLYTIC ASSAY

A suspension hemolytic (SH) assay newly modified in this laboratory wa s applied to the measurement of primary IgM antibody responses, such a s T-dependent, T-independent, and polyclonal B cell. responses in in v ivo and in vitro assays. All results of the SH assay were equal to tho se of the conventional plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay. With the SH as say in in vitro assays, we could separately measure the amount of the IgM that had been produced during the whole immunization period and me asure the IgM newly produced during the shorter time of the assay. The immunomodulations by dioxin and glycopeptide were accurately evaluate d by the SH and the PFC assay. Our study suggested that the SH assay m odified in this laboratory was more advantageous because of the simpli city of the assay and better analysis of data than the PFC assay, and could be used as the primary method in studying the effects of pharmac eutical and toxic agents on humoral immune functions.