[Indirect hemagglutination via glutaraldehyde-treated erythrocytes for determining anti-anthrax antibodies].

The so-called passive hemagglutination reaction is used in this country to determine the serum level of anthrax antibodies in immunized individuals. Use is made of an erythrocyte diagnostic means prepared from formalin- and tannin-treated sheep erythrocytes that have been sensibilized with a protective anthrax antigen. An attempt has been made to replace this means by another one obtained by treating the same erythrocytes with glutaric aldehyde. Comparative studies reveal that the new diagnostic means is equally effective in the passive hemaglutination reaction as is the classic method using formalin- and tannin-treated erythrocytes. The suggested method of erythrocyte treatment proves more feasible, and, according to preliminary data, the new diagnostic means has longer shelf-life.