COMPLEMENT FIXATION Meaning and
Definition
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Complement fixation is a laboratory technique used to determine the presence of specific antibodies or antigens in a biological sample. It is based on the principle that when an antigen and its corresponding antibody interact, they trigger the activation of the complement system, which is a part of the immune system responsible for aiding in the destruction of pathogens.
The process of complement fixation begins with mixing the test sample containing antibodies or antigens with a known source of complement proteins. The mixture is then treated with a specific antigen or antibody, which if present in the test sample, will bind to the corresponding antibody or antigen, respectively. This results in the activation and consumption of the complement system by the formation of antigen-antibody complexes.
To detect the presence of complement fixation, an indicator system is utilized. This system could involve using indicators such as red blood cells, which are lysed when the complement system is activated. The absence of lysis indicates the presence of antigen-antibody complexes that have consumed the complement, thereby fixing it.
Complement fixation assays are widely used in the diagnosis of various infectious diseases, such as syphilis and brucellosis, where the presence of specific antibodies can indicate current or past infections. It is also used in immunology research to study immune responses and in the development of vaccines and therapeutics.
In summary, complement fixation is a laboratory technique that determines the presence of specific antibodies or antigens by measuring the activation and consumption of the complement system, which occurs when antigen-antibody complexes are formed.
Common Misspellings for COMPLEMENT FIXATION
- xomplement fixation
- vomplement fixation
- fomplement fixation
- domplement fixation
- cimplement fixation
- ckmplement fixation
- clmplement fixation
- cpmplement fixation
- c0mplement fixation
- c9mplement fixation
- conplement fixation
- cokplement fixation
- cojplement fixation
- comolement fixation
- comllement fixation
- com-lement fixation
- com0lement fixation
- compkement fixation
- comppement fixation
Etymology of COMPLEMENT FIXATION
The etymology of the word "complement fixation" can be broken down as follows:
1. Complement: The word "complement" comes from the Latin word "complementum", which means "that which completes" or "that which fills up". In the context of immunology, "complement" refers to a system of proteins in the blood that plays a role in immune responses and the destruction of pathogens.
2. Fixation: The word "fixation" has its roots in the Latin word "fixus", which means "fixed" or "fastened". In the context of immunology, "fixation" refers to a reaction in which antibodies specifically bind to antigens, forming an immune complex.
When combined, "complement fixation" refers to a laboratory technique that measures the level of antibodies in a patient's blood by determining their ability to bind and fix the complement system.
Similar spelling words for COMPLEMENT FIXATION
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