While the partial correlations of the allergy skin test neutralization levels of many patients are statistically useful suggestions, they do not necessarily show cross-reactivity. Our next step is to conduct specific laboratory experiments to show us if the suggested cross-reactivity between a pair of correlating antigens actually exists.
We needed ragweed antibodies for our lab tests so we purchased several vials of ragweed antigen and used one of these to produce rabbit antibodies at a collaborating lab. Rabbits are commonly used as a source of antibodies for lab tests because they can make the specific antibodies in high volumes of concentration that scientists need. To fulfill our antibody order, three rabbits were