Usefulness of rheophoresis for detecion of Australia antigen

Abstract

In detecting Australia (Au) antigen in the serum evaluation was made of the use of rheophoresis which increases sensitivity by concentrating reagents through tne hydrodynamic force produced by local evaporation, and shortening the time required for reaction. The results obtained were as follows.
1. In rheophoresis, the diffusion of samples was directed to the center, while it was uniformly in all directions from the wells in Ouchterlony's agar gel diffusion.
2. The sensitivity of saveral methods was compared by the detectability of the various concentrations of Au antigen-containing serum. Au antigen was detectable up to 1:128 dilution in rheophoresis and the sensitivity was almost equal to that of immunoelectrosyneresis.
3. The sensitivity of rheophoresis for the detection of Au antigen-antibody complex was almost equal to that of immunoelectrosyneresis, but Au antigen was not detected in latex agglutination.
4. The usefulness of rheophoresis for the detection of Au antigen was discussed.