Allergic drug reactions: an in vitro model using a mixed function oxidase complex to demonstrate antibodies with specificity for a practolol metabolite.

Reactive metabolite products of the drug practolol were generated in vitro using the rat liver mixed function oxidase complex. The metabolites were spontaneously coupled to a non-agglutinating rabbit antibody to human O red blood cells, so forming a metabolite-antibody reagent. This reagent was then used to passively sensitize human O red cells which subsequently acted as indicator cells for detecting anti-metabolite antibodies.