Introduction to Serology Flashcards
Physical method for complement inactivation
Heat at 56°C for 30 minutes.
Chemical method for complement inactivation
Choline chloride.
Short-term storage for serology specimens
2°C to 8°C for up to 72 hours.
Long-term storage for serology specimens
Frozen at –20°C or below.
Reinactivation of complement after 4+ hours
Heat at 56°C for 10 minutes.
Tests involving antigen-antibody reactions
Immunoassays/Serologic tests.
Direct (forward) immunoassay function
Detects unknown antigen with known/commercial antisera.
Indirect (backward) immunoassay function
Detects unknown antibodies with known/commercial antigens.
Primary immunologic reaction.
Combination of antigen and antibody; most specific and sensitive.
Secondary immunologic reaction features.
Visible reactions; examples include precipitation, agglutination, complement fixation, and neutralization.
Primary vs. secondary reactions.
Primary: Specific and sensitive, no visible reaction; Secondary: Less specific, visible reaction.
Basis for routine immunologic lab tests.
Secondary reactions due to ease and rapid results.
Example of tertiary immunologic reactions.
Phagocytosis, opsonization, chemotaxis.
Features of tertiary reactions.
Detectable in vivo, least sensitive and non-specific.
Precipitation reaction discovery
Kraus (1897).
Precipitation reaction process
Soluble antigen-antibody forms visible insoluble complexes.
Term for immunologic reaction in precipitation
Precipitin.
Optimum precipitation zone
Zone of equivalence.
Effect of antibody excess in precipitation
Prozone; false-negative.
Effect of antigen excess in precipitation
Post zone.
Prevention of false negatives in precipitation
Dilution to reduce concentration.
