The Technique of Fluorescent Antibodies Applied to Dried and Eluted Blood. 2. A Study on the Preservation and Transport of Specimens at High Temperatures

Abstract : This report describes the effect produced on the discs by air shipment to tropical countries and preservation at temperatures varying from 21 to 43 deg C for 32 to 80 days. The detailed results show that shipment and preservation have no significant effect under the conditions given on the results of the FTA/100 test carried out on eluted blood from the discs. The results obtained after shipment to and preservation in tropical surroundings are also in satisfactory agreement with the FTA test carried out on serum immediately after taking the blood sample. A slight lessening of serum reactivity was produced when they were kept in the laboratory at 18-20 deg C during the same length of time and then re-examined at the same time as the discs which had been air shipped and the discs kept in the reference laboratory.