Introduction & Basic Serologic Techniques

Question 1

________as diagnostic tests in clinical laboratory is for diagnosis of infectious diseases & non-infectious diseases.

Answer 1

Serologic testing

Question 2

microbiology, chemistry, toxicology, immunology, hematology, surgical pathology, cytopathology, immunohematology (blood banking) —

Answer 2

Immunologic testing —

Question 3

_______ may now also be done at home, using kits.

Answer 3

Rapid testing

Question 4

_______ technology also developed of highly specific and sensitive immunoassays.

Answer 4

Monoclonal antibody (MAb)

Question 5

Immunologic / Serologic Techniques uses:

Answer 5

1. Test antigens in body fluids or on cells.
2. Determine immunoglobulins and antibodies in body fluids, on cells or in tissues.
3. Detect immune complexes in body fluids and tissues.
4. Quantitate and characterize complement system components.
5. Test functions of phagocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils etc.
6. Tissue typing and mixed lymphocyte reaction

Question 6

_____ is concerned with antigen-antibody reactions in-vitro.

Answer 6

SEROLOGY

Question 7

➢ A written procedural protocol & document of techniques and policies that includes:

a. Specimen /collection and Storage
b. Reagents, Supplies and Equipment
c. Procedural Methods
d. reference Values

Answer 7

Procedures Manual

Question 8

Blood Specimen Preparation:

➢ Promptly separate _____ from the clot after centrifugation.
➢ If serum is contaminated with rbc, it should be ________.
➢ Avoid excessive ___ and ________
➢ Refrigerate serum if test ______ be performed immediately.
➢ Freeze serum at _____ if testing cannot be done within _____
➢ Some procedures require use of_____. It destroys complement activity as it is known to interfere with the reactions of certain tests

Answer 8

serum
re-centrifuged
heat and bacterial contamination
cannot
-20ºC; 72 hours.
 inactivated serum

Question 9

Ways of inactivating Complement:

a. Heating at ____ for 30 minutes or _____ for 3 minutes. Specimens can be _____, though, by heating at _____ for 10 minutes when more than ____ has elapsed.
b. Aging
c. Non-serological means:
● _______
● ______, e.g. (acids, alkalis, alcohol), enzymes, yeast or bacterial cells, tissue extracts
● _______

➢ If inactivation of Complement is not done, it can interfere with the reaction of some tests. Example:

a. In _______, it can agglutinate latex particles and cause false positive reaction.
b. Can also cause lysis of indicator cells in _______

Answer 9

56ºC; 61ºC; reinactivated; 56ºC; 4 hrs

c. vigorous agitation
Chemical treatment
Hemolysis

Agglutination tests
Hemagglutination assay

Question 10

Specimens for Serological Testing

Answer 10

Serum
Urine (pregnancy test & for UTI)
Other specimens 
 - CSF 
- Other body fluids 
- Swabs of various exudates and discharges

Question 11

1. Serum specimen

● Avoid: _______

Answer 11

➢ Hemolysis
➢ Lipemia
➢ Bacterial contamination

Question 12

Collect specimens after thorough cleansing of the external genitalia.

● Observe timing of collection.

Answer 12

Urine (Pregnancy Test & for UTI)

Question 13

Collect specimens into a suitable container to prevent ___ changes.

Answer 13

in-vitro

Question 14

Proper handling and storage of the specimen until testing is essential.

Follow established protocol in specimen collection requirements & conditions for each assay.

Answer 14

!

Question 15

Collect Blood _____ a meal to avoid the presence of ____.

Answer 15

before

chyle

Question 16

____ serum may yield valid results, but may interfere with some.

Answer 16

Icteric or turbid

Question 17

Avoid contamination with _____, such substances may have a denaturing effect on serum proteins and make the specimen unsuitable for testing.

Answer 17

alkali or acid

Question 18

To obtain specimens for serologic testing, consider the phase of the disease and the condition of the patient at the time of specimen collection.

Answer 18

For Antibody Testing

Question 19

If serum is tested for antibody levels with specific infectious organism, draw the blood during:

Answer 19

A. Acute phase of the illness.

B. Convalescent phase.

Question 20

● Note a difference in the amount of antibody present or antibody titer.

● Some diseases, however, may not manifest a rise in titer until months after the acute infection.

Answer 20

This is acute & convalescent serum

Question 21

Pipettes –

Answer 21

Graduated Pipettes or Measuring Pipettes

Serologic Pipettes

Question 22

Great accuracy is not required.

Answer 22

Graduated Pipettes or Measuring Pipettes

Question 23

Primarily used for measuring reagents, but are not sufficiently calibrated to standards or control solutions, unknown specimens or filtrates. Marked with a TC.

Answer 23

Graduated Pipettes or Measuring Pipettes

Question 24

Has a frosted ring or etched band at the non-calibrated end and calibrations extend to the tip; is marked with a TD.

Answer 24

Serologic Pipettes

Question 25

Empty by gravity and expel remaining solution to deliver the full volume

Answer 25

Serologic Pipettes

Question 26

Pipettes & Pipetting Techniques:

Answer 26

1. Manual pipets;
2. Automatic Pipets; and
3. Micro-pipettors.

Question 27

Accidents in laboratory frequently result from improper pipetting technique. ______ instead of mechanical suction is the greatest potential hazard. Hence, ________ is never acceptable in the clinical laboratory

Answer 27

Mouth pipetting

Question 28

____ is an indicator of relative concentration

Answer 28

Dilution

Question 29

The _____or concentration is the central concept of serologic testing.

Answer 29

Rise in titer

Question 30

the reciprocal of the highest dilution of the patient’s serum in which antibody is still detectable.
○ the highest dilution of the serum that gives a positive reaction with the antigen.

Answer 30

Antibody titer

Question 31

A _____indicates a relatively high concentration of the antibody in the serum.

The greatest dilution of the sample that yields a _____ is the endpoint.

Answer 31

high titer

positive result

Question 32

For most ______, increase in the patient’s titer of 2 doubling dilutions over several weeks indicates a current infection. e.g. __ to a positive result of __.

Answer 32

pathogenic infections

1:8; 1:32

Question 32

For most ______, increase in the patient’s titer of 2 doubling dilutions over several weeks indicates a current infection. e.g. __ to a positive result of __.

Answer 32

pathogenic infections

1:8; 1:32

Question 33

● It is any dilution where the concentration decreases by the same quantity in each successive step.

Answer 33

Serial Dilution

Question 34

____ are always made by taking a set quantity of the initial dilution and adding it successively to tubes with the same volume.

Answer 34

Serial dilutions

Question 35

_____are multiplicative, so each successive dilution would be multiplied by the dilution factor.

Answer 35

Serial dilutions