Experimental induction of caprylate-dependent albumin antibodies.

A normal donor with the caprylate-dependent albumin agglutinins volunteered to receive 50 ml. of 25% caprylate-stabilized human albumin to determine the clinical significance of the antibodies. The donor manifested no clinical sign of a reaction. Samples of blood and urine collected before, during and after administration of albumin were subjected to extensive laboratory investigation. Biochemical, immunologic, hematologic, hemostatic and immunohematologic variables investigated showed only insignificant variations in all blood and urine samples. Results indicated that the infusion of albumin was safe, for the donor showed no sign of a hemolytic, febrile, allergic or anaphylactic transfusion reaction. However, since this is the first and only reported experiment of its kind, it is deemed advisable to exercise caution when administering albumin to patients who have caprylate-dependent albumin agglutinins until sufficient supportive data attesting to the complete safety of this procedure have accumulated.

Establishing paternity using minisatellite DNA probes when the putative father is unavailable for testing.

A paternity case involving a putative father who had died a few years earlier in an automobile accident was referred to the laboratory for testing. The child and his mother, the deceased's parents, and nine of the deceased's siblings were available for analysis. As previously reported, paternity testing using red blood cell groups, human leukocyte antigens (HLA), red blood cell enzymes, serum proteins, and immunoglobulin allotypes gave a cumulative paternity index of 43,300 and a combined probability of paternity equal to 99.998%. RFLP analysis using Hinf I and Sau 3A single digests and the minisatellite deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probes 15.1.11.4 and 6.3 showed no exclusion of paternity and gave nearly conclusive evidence that the putative father was the biological father of the child.

Experimental induction of caprylate-dependent albumin antibodies.

To provide evidence for the immune nature of the albumin agglutination phenomenon or caprylate dependent albumin agglutinins (CDAA), rabbits were injected with native serum that had been incubated in a solution of sodium caprylate. Two of three rabbits responded with the production of CDAA, which in vitro behaved identical to human antisera. Human cells were agglutinated only when caprylate stabilized albumin was added to the cell/serum mixture or when caprylate free albumin plus sodium caprylate were used. The CDAA failed to agglutinate rabbit cells, although, both human adult and cord cells were agglutinated. These experiments indicate that the CDAA represent an immune response to native albumin that had been altered by caprylate.

ABO blood groups in Chilean and Peruvian mummies. II. Results of agglutination-inhibition technique.

ABO blood groups of Peruvian and Chilean mummies were determined with the agglutination-inhibition method. In Peru all ABO blood groups were found in the period from 3000 B.C. to 1400 A.D.; from this period to 1650 only A and O were seen. In Chile no B or AB was noted either in pre-Columbian or Colonial mummies. This confirms the archeological concept that the Chilean Indian was culturally as well as genetically different from the Peruvian Indian. Further studies using other genetic markers are in order, as well as changing certain preconceived notions on blood groups of American Indians.

ABO blood groups in Peruvian mummies. I. An evaluation of techniques.

Blood groups of Peruvian mummies of known origin were determined by three different methods: agglutination-inhibition, induction of antibody production and mixed cell agglutination. The three techniques gave identical results, but the last two were useful in establishing the presence of H (O) antigen, while the first technique would not. The results indicate the presence of A, B, AB and O blood groups in America prior to known European contact. This suggests the need for a revision of concepts of blood groups in the American Indian.