Inhibition of Rh Agglutination by Disodium Hydrogen Citrate

Abstract

IT was found that Rh-positive (that is, D-positive) red blood cells suspended in an anti-coagulant preservative solution (2 per cent disodium hydrogen citrate or 'acid citra'; 2·5 per cent dextrose) were not agglutinated by anti-D) grouping sera. Investigating this inhibition, 2 per cent D-positive cell suspensions were titrated with a strong anti-D) serum. The titre of cells in isotonic (0·85 per cent) saline and in isotonic (5 per cent) dextrose was 320, but in isotonic mixtures of acid citrate and sodium chloride or dextrose the titre was reduced according to the acid citrate concentration.