A new approach to detection of antigen-antibody complexes by microcalorimetric measurements of heat production in blood cells.

Using batch microcalorimeters of the thermopile conduction type, heat production was measured in human blood in the presence of defined antigens and their specific antibodies. A large increase in heat production, reflecting increased metabolic activity in the blood cells, was found when antigens and specific antisera at certain antigen-antibody proportions were mixed with the blood. The reproducibility and specificity of the method were found to be very good. The present results indicate that calorimetry may be a useful technique for detection of antigen-antibody complexes.