Serological classification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a slide agglutination test

Abstract

Serological classification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the slide agglutination test with live organisms was studied, based on the O antigen schema adopted by the international expert panel sponsored by the Subcommittee on Pseudomonas and Related Organisms of the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology. The typing results obtained by the slide test with well-absorbed O sera were identical to those obtained by the conventional tube agglutination test with autoclaved organisms. Most O antigens occur singly; but O2, O5, and O16 occur in four combinations. Antigens O13 and O14 are closely related, as are O7 and O8, and it would be convenient to classify organisms possessing these antigens collectively as O7,8 and O13,14.