Further Studies on the Coagulo-Flocculation Test for Malignant Tumors

A modified procedure of the coagulo-flocculation test for malignant tumors 1 is described, based on additional studies of protein fractions of normal serums, those in various diseases and malignant tumors. The essential constituents are: (1) Diluted blood serum inactivated at 60° C. for ½ hour, which should be neither contaminated nor hemolized. (2) The antigen is prepared by extracting finely ground beef heart with 95% alcohol in the ratio 1:10 for 3 days at 37°C. and overnight at room temperature and then filtering. (3) A saturated watery solution of sodium chloride.

The serums are diluted with water before their use in the test according to the percentage of hemoglobin. Dare's hemoglobinometer is used as a standard, and to the percentage of hemoglobin obtained 10 is added and the sum is divided by 20, which gives the dilution for the respective serum. (For instance, the reading was 70% plus 10 = 80 ÷ 20 = 4. The dilution of the serum in this case would be 1 :4.) Where the Dare reading is 45% or less, the serums should be diluted only to 1 :3. Tallqvist's scales can be used if their average reading is previously compared with Dare and the difference taken into consideration in the calculation of the dilutions of the serums. For instance if the Tallqvist scale shows a 10% higher reading than the Dare, nothing is added to the hemoglobin reading before dividing with 20.

The proper dilution of the serum can be determined also from the red blood count by the following formula: —.5 (i. e., if the red blood count was 4,500,000, then 4,500,000/1,000,000 = 4.5 —.5 = 4.0.) The dilution of the serum in this instance would be 1.4. Dilutions below 1 :3 are not made.