Flocculant

Definition

A flocculant is a substance that promotes the clumping of particles, often used to enhance the visibility of antigen-antibody complexes. In immunological assays, flocculants help detect and analyze these complexes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Flocculants are commonly used in immunoprecipitation techniques to visualize antigen-antibody interactions.
2. They increase the rate at which particles settle out of solution by forming larger aggregates or flocs.
3. Flocculants can be natural or synthetic and are chosen based on their compatibility with the biological samples being tested.
4. The effectiveness of a flocculant depends on factors like pH, temperature, and the ionic strength of the solution.
5. In microbiology labs, common flocculants include substances like aluminum sulfate and polyacrylamide.

Related terms

Antigen:

A molecule capable of inducing an immune response.

Antibody:

A protein produced by B cells that binds specifically to an antigen.

Immunoprecipitation: A technique used to isolate and concentrate a specific antigen from a sample using an antibody.