An Enhancing Effect of Albumin on the Determination of Cold Hemagglutinins

Abstract

Serum from a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia was found to have a cold agglutinin titer of 128 when diluted in saline and 131,000 when diluted in 22% bovine serum albumin. Human serum albumin and a non-protein-containing commercial agglutination potentiator had similar enhancing properties. A degree of albumin enhancement of cold agglutination was observed in approximately 25% of normal and patient sera examined. The mechanism of enhancement and the possible clinical significance of the phenomenon are not yet known.