Practical Application of a Hemagglutination Reaction in Tuberculosis.

SummaryThe sera of 216 normal adults and patients with syphilis or non-tuberculous chest diseases were tested for tuberculous antibodies by the hemagglutination reaction: 203 showed no reactions; 12 had positive reactions in serum dilution of 1:2; and one in dilution of 1:4. The sera of 168 patients with active tuberculosis showed 92% positive reactions in dilutions ranging from 1:8 to 1:512. Sera from 33 apparently cured tuberculous individuals revealed no reactions in 31, and positive reactions in 2 in a serum dilution of 1:2. This hemagglutination reaction is apparently a relatively specific test for active tuberculosis.