A passive agglutination method using collagen-coated tanned sheep erythrocytes to demonstrate collagen-glycosaminoglycan interaction.

A haemagglutination method originally designed to detect and measure antibody has been shown to be capable of monitoring interactions of glycosaminoglycans and collagen in vitro under physiological conditions of pH and ionic strength. In this system, dermatan sulphate and chondroitin 4-sulphate interact at higher dilutions ('higher titres') with collagen than do chondroitin 6-sulphate or keratan sulphate. The results are relevant to studies of anti-collagen antibodies in connective tissue fluids and extracts, as well as to connective tissue physiology.