Agglutination Methods Flashcards
The process by which particulate antigens, such as cells, aggregate to form large complexes when the specific antibody is present.
Direct Agglutination
Types of Direct Agglutination
Direct Bacterial Agglutination & Latex Agglutination
Antibodies + surface antigens of bacteria in suspension → visible agglutination
Direct Bacterial Agglutination
When an antigen (e.g., C-reactive protein) is present in the test specimen, it binds to the antibody sites on the latex bead surface. This interaction forms visible cross-linked aggregates of latex beads and the antigen.
Latex Agglutination
Latex Agglutination - Immunologic Assays:
○ C-reactive protein
○ IgG rheumatoid factors
○ IgM rheumatoid factors
○ Rubella antibody
Examples of Direct Agglutination
Febrile agglutinins
Salmonella
Shigella serotyping
An antigen-antibody reaction that results in the clumping of red blood cells
(Direct) Hemagglutination
Examples of (Direct) Hemagglutination
ABO Typing
A reaction in which soluble antigens are bound to
latex beads, bentonite, or charcoal → the particles are agglutinated by the corresponding antibody.
Passive Agglutination
Examples of Passive Agglutination
Rheumatoid Factor
A reaction in which soluble antigens are adsorbed onto RBCs (i.e., proteins coupled to RBCs using bis- diazotized benzidine) → RBCs are agglutinated by the corresponding antibody.
Passive Hemeagglutination
Examples of Passive Hemeagglutination
Cold agglutinins
A reaction in which carrier particles coated with antibody clump together due to combination with antigen.
Reverse Passive agglutination
Examples of Reverse Passive agglutination
Rapid tests for identification of bacteria
An agglutination reaction based on competition between the particulate antigen (reagent) and soluble antigen (specimen) for limited sites on a reagent antibody.
Agglutination Inhibition
Examples of Agglutination Inhibition
Detection of illicit drugs
A test for detecting antibodies to certain viruses that agglutinate RBCs (in the presence of antibody, the virus is neutralized, and hemagglutination does not occur).
Hemeagglutination inhibition
Examples of Hemeagglutination inhibition
Rubella antibody
An agglutination reaction in which bacteria are used as the carrier for the antibody.
Coagglutination
Examples of Coagglutination
Rapid tests for the identification of bacteria
Detection of non-agglutinating antibody by coupling with 2nd antibody (antihuman globulin [AHG])
Antiglobulin- mediated agglutination (Coomb’s test)
Examples of Antiglobulin- mediated agglutination
Direct and indirect antiglobulin test
demonstrate in vivo attachment of antibody or complement to an individual’s red blood cells.
Direct Antiglobulin Test/ Direct Coomb’s Test
determine the presence of a particular antibody in a patient, or it can be used to type patient red blood cells for specific blood group antigens. (In vitro)
Indirect antiglobulin test / Indirect Coombs’ test
Antigens or antibodies are attached or immobilized onto a solid support (e.g., gel particles, plastic beads, microtiter wells) to create a solid phase.
Solid Phase Particle Agglutination
used for detecting antibody, antiviral antibody is chemically bound to erythrocytes.
Separately, the serum specimen and virus antigen are mixed, to which is added the antibody-sensitized erythrocyte suspension.
Reverse Passive Hemagglutination Test (RPH)