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Passive Agglutination

Passive agglutination is a further refinement of haemagglutination. Red cells and inert particles such as polystyrene latex can be coated with various soluble antigens. These are mixed with the patient's serum. Agglutination indicates the presence of antibodies. Passive agglutination is used in the dilgnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. In this disease, the patient makes an antibody (mainly IgM) to his own IgG. The latex particles are coated' with IgG and mixed with the patient's serum. Agglutination indicates a positive test.