EFFECT OF IMMUNIZATIONS ON BLOOD GROUP ANTIBODY PRODUCTION

Immune-type antibodies to human blood groups are found in certain individuals in response to prior exposure to blood group substance. Inoculation with foreign substances, as in immunization programs, has been found to be a potential source for producing these antibodies. Electrophoresis and other methods of analysis were used to determine the protein fraction involved. The turnover of these antibodies was followed with in vivo and in vitro studies. These involved storage at several temperatures and using different solutions including the addition of fresh complement for hemolysin detection. Sera frozen for over three years was included for long-term study and to compare antigenicity of various lots of immunizing material. These studies permitted analysis of the fate of these antibodies in stored and circulating blood. (Author)