Glutaraldehyde stabilisation of antibody-linked erythrocytes for use in reverse passive and related haemagglutination assays.

A simple method for stabilising antibody-linked red blood cells by the addition of low concentrations of glutaraldehyde is described. Fresh and stabilised reagent-linked cells were shown to compare favourably in reverse passive haemagglutination for the measurement of human immunoglobulin isotypes, G, A and M and for the detection of respiratory syncytial and herpes simplex viruses. Stabilised cells were also used to detect antibodies to bacteria and to a soluble antigen adsorbed to a solid phase by mixed haemagglutination reactions.