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