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Ionic Aluminum (III) in Generator Eluate as an Erythrocyte-Agglutinating Agent

Donner Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Max S. Lin, Donner Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, Calif. 94720.

ABSTRACT

Three technetium generators and one gallium generator were used for the evaluation of aluminum contamination and erythrocyte-agglutinating capability of generator eluate. Aluminum content of the generator eluate was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Erythrocyte-agglutinating capability of the eluate was evaluated by a slide agglutination method.

A higher aluminum content of the generator eluate was found to be associated with a greater erythrocyte-agglutinating capability of the eluate. Positive agglutination was limited to washed red cells and to the use of the eluate at an acidic pH.

Slide agglutination using reference aluminum chloride solution showed that ionic aluminum(III) solution at acidic pH could agglutinate red cells with a critical concentration of about 5 µg aluminum/ml at pH 4–5.

Aluminum was eluted from the gallium generator more readily with ethylenediaminetetraacetate solution than with isotonic saline, indicating that the eluted aluminum was in ionic forms.

It was concluded that the contaminating ionic aluminum(III) was a sufficient cause for the red-cell agglutination by the eluate. Plausible mechanism of the agglutination was discussed.