Investigation of the process of latex agglutination based on the analysis of light transmission fluctuations

The agglutination of latex particles against rheumatoid factors (RF) in the presence of sera containing RF have been monitored with the BIOLA-the new platelet aggregation analyzer. We used the new method, which is based on the analysis of light transmission fluctuations caused by random variation of the number of particles in the optical channel. Relative dispersion of such fluctuations is proportional to the mean aggregate size. The kinetics of latex agglutination monitored by the method of light transmission fluctuations have also been investigated. The new method was compared with the conventional method turbidimetry. It was shown that both methods provide quantitative analysis of the aggregation process in the BIOLA aggregation analyzer