Sentence:  After passing * * f through DEAE-cellulose , the titer of antibodies to WTV in the specific fraction was 1 : 4 of the titer before such passage ( precipitin ring <WSD>tests</WSD> by R. F. Whitcomb ) ; but mere dilution of the conjugate to 1 : 4 did not satisfactorily remove nonspecific staining . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  trying something to find out about it