Meiostagmin Reaction

MEIOTAGMIN REACTION serves to detect in certain diseases the weakening of the surface tension of blood serum as a result of interaction with the corresponding antigen. The surface tension is measured by counting drops released from a Traubee stalagmometer. Weakening of surface tension gives an increase in the number of drops in a given volume. Technique of the reaction: 9 cm³ of blood serum, diluted 10 or 20 times, is mixed with 1 cm³ of antigen (extract of bacteria or affected tissues). The mixture is placed in an incubator for 2 hours. Using a stalagmometer, count how many drops a certain volume of diluted serum without antigen contains, and the same volume of serum mixed with antigen, after remaining for 2 hours in an incubator. In case of a positive reaction, the number of drops increases by 1-3. Control experiments, i.e., this antigen with normal serum or immune sera with non-specific antigen or physiol. solution of NaCl, do not give an increase in the number of drops. This reaction was tested by Ascoli and his students in syphilis, malignant neoplasms, tbc, typhoid fever, etc., but did not receive wide distribution.