CARDIOLIPIN-LECITHIN ANTIGEN

Abstract

ESSENTIALLY chemically pure cardiolipin-lecithin antigen, isolated by Pangborn and reported in 1941, 1 has been found to give more specific results in the microscopic slide precipitation test in nonsyphilitic patients than Eagle, Hinton, Kahn, Kline and Mazzini antigens and more sensitive results in patients with syphilis than Hinton, Kahn and Kline antigens. 2 The excellent results obtained with cardiolipin-lecithin antigen and the great simplicity of the slide flocculation technic recommend the two as a base for a single standard test of the blood for syphilis worthy of universal adoption (fig. 1). The simplification of technic from complex, time-consuming complement fixation tests for syphilis, requiring four reagents, to comparatively simple rapid flocculation tests, requiring but one, has been of great benefit to all concerned with the serodiagnosis of the disease. The most recently developed flocculation tests for syphilis are based on a mixture of the ingredients on an open slide. The