COMPLEMENT FIXATION TEST Meaning and
Definition
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The complement fixation test is an immunological laboratory technique used to determine the presence and measurement of specific antibodies in a patient's blood serum. It involves mixing the patient's serum with a known antigen, which is a substance that triggers an immune response, such as a bacterial or viral protein.
The test utilizes a complement system, which is a complex series of proteins that work together to enhance the immune response. If the patient's serum contains specific antibodies against the antigen, the antibodies will bind to the antigen, forming immune complexes. These immune complexes activate the complement system, resulting in the consumption of complement proteins.
To measure the amount of complement consumed, a non-specific indicator system is added to the mixture. This indicator system consists of red blood cells that are coated with complement proteins. If the complement has been consumed due to the formation of immune complexes, the indicator cells will not be lysed (destroyed) by the remaining complement proteins in the mixture, causing them to form a visible clump or "fix" onto the indicator cells.
The final result is observed visually, and the degree of clumping or lack thereof provides a quantitative measure of the antibodies present in the patient's serum. In this way, complement fixation tests can identify the presence and quantity of specific antibodies, aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of various infectious or autoimmune diseases.
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