The potentiation of “incomplete” mouse monoclonal anti‐Lea agglutination with colloids

Mouse monoclonal anti-Lea produced in this center was found to agglutinate only Le(a+) red cells which had been modified with proteases. In order to provide a stable medium in which the monoclonal anti-Lea would directly agglutinate unmodified red cells, the potentiating effect of a variety of colloids was assessed. Satisfactory results were obtained when 10 percent (wt/vol) dextran and 2 percent (wt/vol) bovine serum albumin were added to the culture supernatant containing anti-Lea. It is suggested that direct hemagglutination mediated by these colloids resulted from a combination of increased antibody uptake by Le(a+) red cells and change in the shape of these red cells induced by dextran.