Quantitation of antibody to particulate antigens using a radiolabelled anti-immunoglobulin reagent: application to estimation of antibody in farmer's lung syndrome

A method of wide applicability is described for the study of serological changes in response to particulate antigens. The practical and theoretical aspects of the method have been explored in estimation of antibody to Micropolyspora faeni in human cases of farmer's lung syndrome. This method, using a radiolabelled antiglobulin to detect cell-bound antibody, was found to be of high sensitivity and reproducibility. Antibody has been estimated in micrograms per millilitre of serum by correlation with the results of quantitative agglutination test.