Unit 3 Flashcards
What is precipitation?
Combine soluble antigen and stable antibody to produce insoluble complexes
What is agglutination
Antigen -antibody complexes cross-link, causing clumping
Why are precipitation and agglutination
Considered unlabeled immunoassays?
Because a marker label is not needed to detect the reaction
What is affinity?
Initial force of attraction that exists between a single Fab site on antibody and a single epitope or determinant site on corresponding antigen
What does the strength of attraction depend on?
- Specificity of antibody for a particular antigen
- the epitopes shape and way it fits with binding siteson antibody determine whether band is stable or not
What is cross-reactivity?
-The more the cross-reacting antigen resembles the original antigen, the stronger the bond will be between the antigen and binding sites
- cross reacting antigens have lower affinity
What is serology?
Study of fluid components in the blood, especially antibodies
Describe serum
-liquid portion of blood minus coagulation factors
-most frequently encounter specimen in immunologic testing
- can be separated from other components of blood via centrifuge
What Color tube tops are serum collected in
Red top or tiger top
What is the additive for the red tube top?
None
How should serum be stored if testing is delayed?
-2-8°C for up to 72 hours
-frozen at -20°C or below
What is the additive of the red and grey tiger top?
Gel barrier
Why would a speciemen be rejected?
- hemolyzed
- clotted speciemen
- wrong tube or container
- tube not labeled
- inadequate quantity
- tube mislabeled
What are the 3 phases of laboratory testing?
- preanalytical
-analytical
-postanalytical
What are examples of preanalytical testing?
- Speciemen collection
- Transport
- processing
What are some examples of analytical testing?
Testing
What are some examples of postanalytical phase
- Testing results
- transmission
-interpretation
-follow up - retesting
What phases of the laboratory testing constitutes for 90% of the errors that occur?
- Pre-analytical
- post-analytical
What are the three phases of antigen/antibody complexes?
① primary phenomenon
② secondary phenomenon
③tertiary phenomenon
Describe the primary phenomenon phase of antigen/antibody complexes
- Combination of binding site on antibody with a single epitope on antigen
-reversible: occurs in mili-seconds - not easily detectable-hard to measure
Describe the secondary phenomenon phase of antigen/antibody complexes
- Precipitation, agglutination, and complement fixation
- easily detectable
- most serological tests based
Describe the tertiary phenomenon phase of antigen/antibody complexes
-inflammation, phagocytosis, depression of immune complexes,immune adherence, chemotaxis (all in vivo)
What is complement fixation?
Triggers the classical complement pathway to detect antibody or antigen in the patients serum
What is avidity?
-Is the sum oo the attractive forces between an antigen and an antibody
- strength with which a multivalent antibody binds a multivalent antigen
What does avidity measure?
Overall stability of an antigen- antibody complex
The more bonds that form between antigen and antibody, the higher the ________
Avidity
What is the law of mass action?
Free reactants are in equilibrium with bound
Reactants
What is the law of mass action equation?
K=[Ag/Ab]/[Ab][Ag]
In law of mass action, what does the Kvalue depend on?
The strength of binding between antibody and antigen
The higher the K value……
-the larger the amount of antigen-antibody complexes
- the more visible or easily detectable the reaction
In the law of mass action equation, what does [Ag/Ab] represent?
Concentration of the antigen- antibody complex (mol/L)
In the law of mass action equation, what does [Ab] represent?
Concentration of free antibody (mol/L)
In the law of mass action equation, what does [Ag] represent?
Concentration of free antigen (mol/L)
What does precipitation require antigens and antibodies to have?
- Multiple binding sitesfor one another
-equivalent concentrations
What are the 3 groups of the precipitation curve?
- zone of equivalence
- prozone
- postpone
For optimal precipitation, reactions must be run in what phase of the precipitation curve?
Zone of equivalent
What is the zone of equivalence of the precipitation curve?
- Number of multi-valent sites of antigen and antibody are approximately equal
Describe the prozone of precipitation curve
- Antibody excess
- antigen combine with one or two antibodies
- ## No cross linking
What could cause a false negative result in the prozone phase of the precipitation curve?
- High antibody concentration
What should be done if a false negative result is suspected in the prozone phase of precipitation curve?
- Diluting out the antibody and performing the test again may produce a positive result
Describe the postzone phase of the precipitation curve
-antigen excess
- small aggregates are surrounded by excess antigen
- No lattice network formed
What could cause a false negative result in the postzone phase of the precipitation curve?
-presence of a small amount of antibody
What should be done is false negative results occur in the postzone phase of the precipitation curve?
-test may be repeated a week later with another speciemen to give more time for antibody production
What are immunoturbidimetry and Nephleometry used to test for?
- Complement
- C-reactive protein
- immunoglobulins
- other serum protein
What is the sensitivity of immunoturbidity and nephelometry?
1-10 ug AB/ML
What is the principle of immunoturbidity and Nephelometry?
Light that is scattered at an angle is measured, indicating the amount of antigen or antibody present
What is radial immunodiffusion used to test for?
- Complement
- immunoglobulins
What is the sensitivity of radial immunodiffusion?
10-50 ug AB/ML
What is the principle of radial immunodiffusion?
Antigen diffuses out into gel that is infused with antibody. Measurement of the radius indicates concentration of antigen
What is Ouchterlony double diffusion used to test for?
- Complex antigens, such as fungal antigens
What is the sensitivity of the Ouchterlony double diffusion?
20-200 ug AB/ML
What is the principle of Ouchterlony double diffusion?
Both antigen and antibody diffuse out from wells in a gel. The lines of precipitate formed indicate the relationship of antigens
What does immunoelectrophoresis test for?
Differentiation of serum proteins
What is the sensitivity of immunoelectrophoresis?
20-200 ug AB/ML
What is the principle of immunoelectrophoresis?
Electrophoresis of serum is followed by diffusion of antibody from the wells
What is immunofixation electrophoresisuse to test for?
Over or under production of antibody
What is the sensitivity of immunofixation electrophoresis?
Varies
What is the principle of immunofixation electrophoresis
Electrophoresis of serum is followed by direct application of antibody to the gel
What machines could be used for immunoturbidity?
- Spectrophotometer
-automated clinical chemistry analyzer
What machine is used for nephelometry?
Nephelotometer
Describe a nephelotometer
- Contains photodetector located between 30-90 degrees from light source
-amount of light scatter increases as the number of immune complexes increases and is an index of the concentration of antigen or antibody in solution
What does agarose gel do?
- Helps stabilize the diffusion process and allow visualization of the preciptin band
What is passive immunodiffusion?
-when no electric currentis used to speed up the migration of the reactants
What can affect the rate of diffusion in passive immunodiffusion?
- Size of particle
- temperature
- gel viscosity
What is the end point (Mancini) method?
Reaction goes to completion
What is the kinetic (Fahey) method?
-faster
-measurements taken before reaction is complete
What is the RID end point method results?
The square of the diameter is proportional to the antigen concentration
What are the three possible patterns of Ouchterlony diffusion?
- Identity (arc)
- partial identity (one line extends)
- nonidentity (line cross X)
Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) is
Performed to visualize what?
Increased or decreased productionof antibody classes and to differentiate monoclonal and polyclonal immunoglobulins
What are agglutins?
- Produced by antibodies
What are the two steps of agglutination?
① sensitization
② lattice formation
Describe the sensitization step of agglutination
- initial bonding
- antigen and antibody unite through bonding of antigenic determinant sites
- fast and reversible
Describe the lattice formation of agglutination
- Creation of large aggregates
-visible aggregates form as multiple antigen and antibody molecules bind to create a stable lattice
What is sensitization of agglutination affected by?
-by nature of the antigens on agglutinating ‘ particles
- RBC and bacterial cells have a slightly negative surface charge
- class of immunoglobulin
What occurs if epitopes are sparse in the sensitization step of agglutination?
- Less likely to interact with antibody
What is Coombs reagent?
- Anti-human immunoglobulin
- frequently used in blood bank
- binds to Fc portion of IgG
Briefly describe immunoturbidity
- automated methods
- measures reduction in light intensity
Briefly describe nephelometry
- Automated methods
-measures light scatter as immune complexes form
What are the 4 types of agglutination reactions?
① direct agglutination
② passive agglutination
③ reverse passive agglutination
④ agglutination inhibition
Describe direct agglutination
- Uses particles with naturally occurring antigens to test for antibodies in patient serum
What does direct agglutination test for?
- Bacteria (Widal test)
- RBCs
Describe the Widal test
- A rapid screening test used to determine the possibility of typhoid fever
- uses Salmonella O (somatic) and H (flagellar) antigens
- direct agglutination
What test are ran for RBCs?
- Hemagglutination
- ABO typing
(direct agglutination)
Describe passive agglutination
-uses particles that are coated with antigens not normally found on their surfaces: erythrocytes, gelatin, latex, and silicates
What does passive agglutination test for?
- RA
- antibodies to Group A streptococcus antigens
- antibodies to viruses such as rubella
- heterophile antibody in infections mononucleosis
Describe the reverse passive agglutination process
① antibody is attached to the carrier particle
② agglutination occurs is antigenis present in the patient sample
What can reverse passive agglutination test for?
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus Groups A and B
- rotavirus
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- detects soluble antigen in urine, spinal fluid and serum
- rapid ID of antigens from infections
Describe agglutination inhibition
-based on competitionbetween particle and soluble antigens for limited antibody- combining sites
- used to detect haptens antigens (illicit drugs)
- lack of agglutination= positive reaction
What is an example of an agglutination inhibition procedure?
- hemagglationation inhibition → uses RBCs
-used to detect antibodies to certain viruses that can bind to RBCs and agglutinate them
What virus can hemagglutination inhibition be used to test for?
- Rubella
-influenza
-respiratory syncytial virus)
What is the principle of direct agglutination?
-antigen is naturallyfound on a particle
Describe the results of direct agglutination
Agglutination indicates the presence of patient antibody
What is the principle of passive (indirect) agglutination?
Particles are coated with antigens not normally found on their surfaces
Describe the results of passive (indirect) agglutination
Agglutination indicates the presence of patient antibody
What is the principle reverse passive agglutination?
Particles are coated with reagent antibody
Describe the results of reverse passive agglutination
Agglutination indicates the presence of patient antigen
What is the principle of agglutination inhibition?
- Haptens are attached to carrier particles.
- particles compete with patient antigens for a limited number of antibody sites
Describe the results of agglutination inhibition
Lack of agglutination is a positive test, indicating the presence of patient antigen
What is the principle of hemagglutination inhibition?
RBCs spontaneously agglutinate in presence of certain viruses
Describe the results of hemagglutination inhibition
Lack of agglutination is a positive test, indicating the presence of patient antibody
Describe the monospot test
Used to detect the heterophile antibody characteristics of infections mononucleosis by its ability to agglutinate horse or bovine RBCs
Describe cold agglutins
-Produced by patients with certain autoimmune disorders, malignancies or infections, are antibodies that agglutinate human type O RBCs when incubated at cold temperatures
Describe PETINIA
“particle-enhanced turbidmetric inhibition immunoassay”
-patient sample is incubated with latex beads coated with analyte will prevent antibody turbidity results
-measures small analytes such as therapeutic drugs
- homogenous competitive immunoassay
Describe the results of PETINIA
- If low amount of analyte is present in the sample, the reagent antibody will bind to the latex beads, resulting in aggregate formation andnigh level of turbidity
-when concentration of analyteis high, analyte will bind to the reagent antibody and prevent it from binding to the latex beads, resulting is less turbidity
The amount of turbidity is ________ ________ to the concentration of the drug analyte in sample of PETINIA
Inversely proportional
How can most cross-reactivity be avoided?
Through use of monoclonal antibody directed against an antigenic determinant that is unique to antigen
What are advantages of agglutination reactions?
- rapidity
- easy to perform
- no expensive equipment
- relatively sensitive
When does maximum binding at antigen and antibody occur?
When the aggregate number of multivalent sites of antigen and antibody are approximately equal
Describe agglutination reaction with IgM
- able to mediate lattice formation with antigen without additional enhancement
Describe the agglutination reaction with IgG
-requires enhancement techniques that vary physicochemical conditions and the addition of an anti-human immunoglobulin (Coombs reagent) in order to see a visible reaction
How does precipitation differ from agglutination?
Precipitation involves a soluble antigen, whereas agglutination involves a particulate antigen
What is imperative for optimal agglutination?
- Avoid cross reactivity using monoclonal antibodies
- store properly
-check expiration dates
-account for sensitivity and specificityforkits used
-negative result does not rule out presence of the disease or antigen
Describe labeled immunoassays
- designed for antigen and antibodies that may be small in size or present in very low concentrations
- use a reactant labeled with a detection molecules to monitor the amount or specific binding that has taken place
What kind of things does labeled immunoassay detect?
- microbial antigens
- hormones
- drugs
- tumor markers
- specific immunoglobulin
- proteins
- peptides
What is an analyte?
A biomarker
What are the varieties of labels that can be used for immunoassays?
- Enzyme/colorimetric substrate
- Chemiluminescent molecule/trigger solution
- Fluorescent compound (fluorophore)
- radioactive isotope (older methods)
How are labeled immunoassays differ from unlabeled techniques?
-a detection molecule (label) in the test system
What is a common technique to many labeled immunoassay?
Enzyme-mediated catalysis of a reagent substrate to generate a light signal
Describe heterogenous immunoassays
-involve physical separation of bound and free components
-most commonly involve binding tu a solid phase (polystyrene reaction wells, microparticle beads, plastic tubes)
-magnetic separation or centrifugation maybe used.
Describe homogenous immunoassays
Do not require a physical separation step
Describe competitive immunoassays
- All the reactants are mixed together simultaneously
-labeled and unlabeled antigen compete for a limited number of binding sites on reagent antibody
-have high specificity
In competitive immunoassays,the amount of bound labeled is ________ _______ to the concentration of the labeled antigen
Inversely proportional
What does competitive immunoassays measure?
measure small antigens that are relatively pure (drugs and hormones)
What is the steps of competitive immunoassay procedure?
①unknown concentration of analyte in patient sample competes with labeled analyte for binding sites on immobilized antibody
②wash to remove unbound materials
③after substrate is added, a colored product (signal) is generated with an intensity proportional to the amount of enzyme- labeled analyte boundto the antibody