The Conglutinating Complement Absorption Test (CCAT) is a medical test used to detect certain diseases. The spelling of this complicated medical term can be deciphered using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. The first word, "conglutinating," is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable as [kənˈɡluːtəneɪtɪŋ]. The second word, "complement," is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable as [ˈkɒmplɪmənt]. Finally, "absorption" is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable as [əbˈsɔːpʃən]. This challenging medical term, CCAT, involves all three words and their phonetic spellings.
The Conglutinating Complement Absorption Test (CCAT) is a laboratory technique used to measure the amount of complements absorbed by an antigen-antibody reaction. Complements are proteins in the blood plasma that play a crucial role in the immune system's ability to destroy pathogens and foreign substances. This test specifically assesses the level of complement absorption observed during the conglutination process.
The conglutination process refers to the clumping of antigens and antibodies when they come into contact with each other. During this process, complements present in the blood are utilized to facilitate the clumping together of the antigen-antibody complexes to neutralize the threat. The complements are subsequently absorbed or consumed in the complex formation, reducing their concentration in the serum.
In the CCAT, a known amount of specific antibody is mixed with a measured quantity of diluted patient or animal serum containing the antigen. The mixture is incubated under controlled conditions, allowing the antigens and antibodies to react and form complexes. After incubation, the mixture is centrifuged to isolate the complexes from the remaining serum.
The supernatant obtained after centrifugation is then tested to determine the amount of complements absorbed during the process. The CCAT quantifies the remaining free complements in the supernatant by measuring their activity level. The result of the test is expressed as the percentage of complement absorption, indicating the efficiency of the complex formation.
The Conglutinating Complement Absorption Test is primarily utilized in immunological studies and diagnosis of various diseases such as autoimmune disorders, hypersensitivity reactions, and immune deficiencies. It provides valuable insights into the immunological interactions occurring in the body and aids in identifying and monitoring immune system dysfunctions.