Immunofluorescence Test

Question 1

What is special about immunofluorescence?

Answer 1

optimized for testing SOLID samples! (NON-liquid samples! eg. brain tissue, liver tissue) (all other tests are for liquid samples)

Question 2

What is the conjugated particle in immunofluorescence testing?

Answer 2

fluorescence marker

Question 3

Explain how the immunofluorescence tests work.

Answer 3

• very thin cross-section of sample required (eg. slice of brain)
• conjugated antibodies added (against the antigen on our sample)
• conjugated antibody-antigen complex formed
• conjugation= FLUORESCENCE MARKER (not enzyme, not nanobody)
• photons excite the markers causing the production of a certain colour fluorescence
• fluorescence only seen in the microscope (emits wavelength of light and detects wavelength of light) (dark microscope, only seen fluorescence)
• other sets of antibodies can mark different parts of the cell (eg. stain the nucleus) (stained with antibodies having different conjugated fluorescence markers)

Question 4

What type of tests require conjugated antibodies/antigens?

Answer 4

all advanced immunological methods