Lyophilized Erythrocytic Plague Diagnostic Agent (Liofilizirovanny Zritrotsitarny Protivochumny Diagiostikum)

A dry erythrocytic diagnostic agent was obtained for use in the rapid detection and identification of the causative agent of plague. Sheep erythrocytes, formalinized by the Weinbach method, as modified by Butler, were used in its preparation. Erythrocytic diagnostic agents were obtained by two methods. The erythocytic diagnostic agent prepared using bisdiazotized benzidine was more sensitive in the indirect hemagglutination reaction than preparations obtained on the basis of formalinized erythrocytes and was equal to a fluid diagnostic agent prepared from native erythrocytes. The lyophilized erythocytic diagnostic agent was found to be highly stable under a wide variety of storage conditions. (Author) Trans. of Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii i Immunobiologii (USSR) n 7 p85-87 1969.