THE BLOOD UROUPS OF MARINE ANIMALS
119
1963b). However, a fertile field for investigation lies essentially
unexplored in these areas. Marine algae and micro-organisms (Springer
et aZ., 1962) also offer opportunities for serological analysis.
D. Blood grouping techniques
I. Introduction
The selection of techniques for blood grouping marine animals
has generally been guided by the need for simple methods that will
prove reliable under field conditions and which are applicable for
handling large numbers of samples. The three general methods
described in the next sections have found wide use.
2. Slide agglutination
The essence of this method is the mixing of a drop of reagent in
selected dilution with a drop of erythrocyte suspension (usually one
estimated to contain " two per cent " cells) in a depression on a glass
slide or plate. Agglutinations that occur are read directly, sometimes
using low power magnification, and recorded following 20 min or so
of intermittent gentle shaking of the slide. The method has the advantage of being fast and simple, the disadvantage that sometimes agglutination dovelops too slowly to be detected within the time limit
which is imposed by evaporation even though this can be retarded
using covers such as halves of Petri dishes.
3. Test tube agglutination
Two drops of reagent are mixed with two drops of erythrocyte
suspension in a 10 mm x 76 mm test tube. Readings are made after
1 h, and again after several hours, the mixtures being intermittently
shaken before each reading. Sometimes the second reading is made
after an overnight interval with the tubes being kept in a refrigerator.
This method has the advantage of allowing more time for reactions
to occur, and the disadvantage of requiring more equipment than the
slide test. A useful modification is one in which tubes are centrifuged
5 or 10 min after the test is started and agglutination read in terms of
the degree to which the pellet retains its integrity upon resuspension.
4. Capillary agglutination
Capillary tube agglutination was originally used by Chown and
Lewis in studying Rhesus antigens (Chown, 1944; mown and Lewis,
l946). Their original technique has been used with success by Ridgway,
and a modification thereof by Sprague, Vrooman and others. Reagents
and cell suspensions are drawn into a tube through capillary attraction,
A.Y.1).--3
1
119
1963b). However, a fertile field for investigation lies essentially
unexplored in these areas. Marine algae and micro-organisms (Springer
et aZ., 1962) also offer opportunities for serological analysis.
D. Blood grouping techniques
I. Introduction
The selection of techniques for blood grouping marine animals
has generally been guided by the need for simple methods that will
prove reliable under field conditions and which are applicable for
handling large numbers of samples. The three general methods
described in the next sections have found wide use.
2. Slide agglutination
The essence of this method is the mixing of a drop of reagent in
selected dilution with a drop of erythrocyte suspension (usually one
estimated to contain " two per cent " cells) in a depression on a glass
slide or plate. Agglutinations that occur are read directly, sometimes
using low power magnification, and recorded following 20 min or so
of intermittent gentle shaking of the slide. The method has the advantage of being fast and simple, the disadvantage that sometimes agglutination dovelops too slowly to be detected within the time limit
which is imposed by evaporation even though this can be retarded
using covers such as halves of Petri dishes.
3. Test tube agglutination
Two drops of reagent are mixed with two drops of erythrocyte
suspension in a 10 mm x 76 mm test tube. Readings are made after
1 h, and again after several hours, the mixtures being intermittently
shaken before each reading. Sometimes the second reading is made
after an overnight interval with the tubes being kept in a refrigerator.
This method has the advantage of allowing more time for reactions
to occur, and the disadvantage of requiring more equipment than the
slide test. A useful modification is one in which tubes are centrifuged
5 or 10 min after the test is started and agglutination read in terms of
the degree to which the pellet retains its integrity upon resuspension.
4. Capillary agglutination
Capillary tube agglutination was originally used by Chown and
Lewis in studying Rhesus antigens (Chown, 1944; mown and Lewis,
l946). Their original technique has been used with success by Ridgway,
and a modification thereof by Sprague, Vrooman and others. Reagents
and cell suspensions are drawn into a tube through capillary attraction,
A.Y.1).--3
1