Cells involved in the immune response. XXX. An evaluation of the different assays to demonstrate rabbit spleen plaque-forming cells. Enhancement of the assay by anti-target cell antibodies.

Four different procedures for the detection of rabbit spleen plaque-forming cells (PFC) directed toward the sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) antigen were evaluated in terms of their sensitivity. These included the conventional localized hemolysis in gel (LHG) assay, the thin-layer LHG assay, the LH assay using a monolayer of the target SRBC erythrocytes and the localized hemolysis in liquid phase (Cunningham) assay. The latter assay consistently proved to be the most sensitive assay. The sensitivity of this latter assay was further improved by incorporating preformed IgG or IgM antibodies directed toward the target erythrocytes, in subhemolytic concentrations, into the assay. This antibody-enhanced plaque assay in liquid medium is 20-50 times more sensitive than the conventional LHG assay.