Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
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
Flocculants are commonly used in immunoprecipitation techniques to visualize antigen-antibody interactions.
They increase the rate at which particles settle out of solution by forming larger aggregates or flocs.
Flocculants can be natural or synthetic and are chosen based on their compatibility with the biological samples being tested.
The effectiveness of a flocculant depends on factors like pH, temperature, and the ionic strength of the solution.
In microbiology labs, common flocculants include substances like aluminum sulfate and polyacrylamide.