Chapter 1
Chapter 1
COURSE CODE
CHAPTER ONE: AGGLUTINATION METHODS
CHAPTER ONE: AGGLUTINATION METHODS
· Agglutination - is an antigen-antibody reaction in which particulate antigens become visibly clumped after reacting with their corresponding antibodies.
Unlike precipitation, which involves soluble antigens, agglutination involves antigens that are naturally present on or artificially attached to particles such as:
· Red blood cells
· Bacteria
· Latex particles
· Charcoal particles
Synthetic beads
The visible clumping makes agglutination particularly useful in routine clinical laboratories because the reaction can often be detected rapidly without sophisticated instrumentation.
• The basic reaction can be represented as: Particulate antigen + Specific antibody -> Antigen-antibody lattice -> Visible agglutination
For visible agglutination to occur:
One. The antibody must recognize the antigen.
Two. The antibody must have sufficient binding sites.
Three. Antigenic sites must be appropriately positioned.
Four. Antigen and antibody must be present in appropriate proportions.
Five. The reaction must occur under suitable environmental conditions.