Serologic Procedures Flashcards
What specimen do we use for the majority of immunology tests?
Serum
Other body fluids may be used
How can we inactivate complement?
Heat to 56 C for 30 min
What must be avoided because it has a denaturing effect on serum proteins rendering them useless?
Alkali or Acid
What must we do if Complement has been inactivated longer than 4 hours?
Heat to 56 C for 10 minutes
What factors can affect the quality of agglutination testing?
Time of incubation
Amount and Avidity
Test environment
What is the Flocculation test based on?
The interaction of soluble antigen with antibody
What does the Flocculation test result in?
Precipitate of fine particles
What tests do we use in regards to Flocculation?
Venereal Disease Research Lab (VDRL)
Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
What can be used to detect antibodies directed against pathogens?
Direct agglutination of whole pathogens
What kind of testing is more sensitive in regards to bacterial agglutination?
Tube testing > slide testing
What techniques can be used to enhance agglutination?
Centrifugation
Proteolytic Enzymes
Colloids
Anti human Globulin (AHG)
What is significant about hCG?
2 subunits (B unit)
Doubles every 2-3 days (10-50)
What can cause false positive result in hCG?
hCG injection
Chorioepithelioma
Hydatidiform Mole
Excessive aspirin ingestion
What is diagnostic of a negative hCG agglutination result?
POSITIVE AGGLUTINATION
If positive: NO agglutination
What systems can Latex Agglutination be used in?
Pregnancy testing
Rubella
Antibody testing
What can chemicals such as chromic chloride, tannic acid, and glutaraldehyde be used for?
Cross link Antigens to the cells
