agglutination methods Flashcards
visible expression of the aggregation of antigens and antibodies
Precipitation and agglutination
aggregation of soluble test antigens
Precipitation
soluble antigen + soluble antibody =
visible insoluble complex
whereby specific antigens (e.g., red blood cells) aggregate to form larger visible clumps when the corresponding specific antibody is present in the serum
Agglutination
In Agglutination…
_______ may be needed to indicate visibly that an antigen-antibody reaction has taken place (latex particles and colloidal charcoal)
Artificial carrier particles
easy to perform; most sensitive tests currently available
Agglutination
first agglutination tests were developed
1960s
types of agglutination
- Latex Agglutination
- Flocculation Tests
- Direct Bacterial Agglutination
- Hemagglutination
(1)
bound to the surface of latex beads (C-reactive protein)
forming visible cross-linked aggregates of latex beads and antigen
Antibody molecules
(1)
- coated the latex particles (pregnancy testing, rubella antibody testing)
- agglutinate into large visible clumps
Antigen
Variations of latex agglutination
Coagglutination
Liposome-enhanced Testing
(1)
- Uses antibodies bound to a particle to enhance the visibility of agglutination
- Highly specific method
- Not as sensitive as latex agglutination
Coagglutination
detect minute amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
LATEX AGGLUTINATION: PREGNANCY TESTING
a glycoprotein hormone secreted by the trophoblast of the developing embryo
hCG
first 6 to 8 weeks after conception: helps maintain the ______ and stimulate the production of ______
corpus luteum ; progesterone
hCG two noncovalently linked subunits
a unit and B subunit
identical to luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
a-unit
many pregnancy test kits contain ________ directed against the ______ to increase the _______ of the reaction
monoclonal antibody (MAb) ; β subunit ; specificity
level of hCG should double every ___ to ___ days
2 to 3
incubation of the patient’s specimen with anti-hCG, then addition of latex particles coated with hCG
Agglutination Inhibition
agglutination inhibition reaction results
(+) rxn: no agglutination (neutralizes the antibody)
(-) rxn: agglutination
If hCG is present, it neutralizes the antibody; thus,
no agglutination of latex particles is seen. If no
hCG is present, agglutination occurs between the
anti-hCG and hCG-coated latex particles.
latex agglutination that is rapid, direct, uses monoclonal Antibodies
Pregnancy Latex Slide Agglutination
Pregnancy Latex Slide Agglutination reaction results
(+) rxn: agglutination within 2 mins
(-) rxn: no agglutination
In pregnancy latex agglutination..
agglutination should be read within _______ to avoid erroneous results caused by _______
3 minutes ; evaporation
False-Positive Results (latex agglutination pregnancy testing)
- hCG injection (Pregnyl): can remain in the patient’s system for as long as 10 days
- Chorioepithelioma
- hydatidiform mole
- excessive ingestion of aspirin
- testicular tumor
False-Negative Results (latex agglutination pregnancy testing)
Testing before reaching detectable levels of hCG
(2) for antibody detection
FLOCCULATION TESTS
(2) soluble antigen + antibody =
formation of a precipitate of fine particles
used in syphilis serologic testing
FLOCCULATION TESTS
tests in the flocculation tests..
VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratories) Test
RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) Test
- antibody-like protein, reagin, binds to the test antigen, cardiolipin-lecithin–coated cholesterol particles,
- produces the particles that flocculate
Venereal Disease Research Laboratories (VDRL) test
antigen, cardiolipin-lecithin–coated cholesterol with choline chloride, also contains charcoal particles that allow for macroscopically visible flocculation
Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) Test
Used to detect antibodies directed against the
pathogens, test produced by the host to antigen
determination on the surface of bacterial agent in
response to infection within that bacterium.
Direct Bacterial Agglutination
(3) In a thick suspension of the bacteria, the binding of specific antibodies to surface antigens of the bacteria causes the bacteria to clump together in visible aggregates. This type of agglutination is called
Bacterial Agglutination
use of _______ enhances the aggregation of bacteria since most bacterial surfaces exhibit a _______ that causes them to repel each other
sterile physiologic saline ; negative charge
_______ is considered more sensitive than slide testing because it allows more time for the antigen-antibody reaction
tube testing
(4) detects antibodies to erythrocyte antigens
HEMAGGLUTINATION
HEMAGGLUTINATION specimen
contains Ab
- detect antibodies to antigens other than those present on the cells
- used to cross-link antigens to the cells: chromic chloride, tannic acid, and glutaraldehyde
Indirect hemagglutination or passive hemagglutination (PHA)
______ is the clumping of particles that have antigens on their surface
Agglutination
Mechanisms of Agglutination
Sensitization
Lattice Formation
- First phase
- physical attachment of antibody molecules to antigens on the erythrocyte membrane
- combination of antigen and antibody is a reversible chemical reaction
- Elution: when physical conditions are purposely manipulated to break the antigen-antibody complex, with subsequent release of the antibody into the surrounding medium
Sensitization
In sensitization, combination of antigen and antibody is a _______
reversible chemical reaction
when physical conditions are purposely manipulated to break the antigen-antibody complex, with subsequent release of the antibody into the surrounding medium
Elution
Inert particles such as latex, RBCs, and bacteria
have a NET NEGATIVE SURFACE CHARGE called the
________
zeta potential
a technique to reduce zeta potential that removes negatively charged sialic acid residues from cell surface membrane
Enzyme pretreatment of red blood cells
a technique to reduce zeta potential that increases electrical conductivity of environment
Addition of colloids (e.g., albumin)
a technique to reduce zeta potential which action is mechanical process to force red blood cells closer together.
Centrifugation
each antibody molecule must have at least 2 binding sites and that an antigen must be multivalent
Lattice hypothesis
Zone of equivalence=
detectable reaction
overcome by serially diluting the antibody-containing serum until optimum amounts of antigen and antibody are present in the test system
prozone phenomenon
small aggregates (clumps) are surrounded by excess antigen
postzone phenomenon
Repeat blood specimen should be collected _______ weeks later
1 or more
______ and _______ of antigenic determinants both affect agglutination
placement and number
If dissimilar antibodies with the same binding constant are directed against antigenic determinants located close to each other, antibodies will compete for space in reaching their specific receptor sites
Steric Hindrance