The mixed cell agglutination method for typing mummified human tissue

A, B, and O(H) antigens have been demonstrated in mummified epidermal tissue by means of the mixed agglutination method. This mixed erythrocyte‐epidermal cell agglutination is possible since both cell types possess a common antigen. Tissue samples derived from prehistoric aboriginal populations of the Aleutian Islands, the Southwestern United States and Peru and Chile were subjected to testing using this technique. The continuity in ABO type between these aboriginal specimens and those of living populations is remarkable. A, B, AB and O(H) types were found to be represented in the 30 Aleut specimens while the Southwestern United States materials revealed just antigens A and O. Only the O antigen was recorded from specimens from Peru and Chile.