Hemagglutination

Definition

Hemagglutination is the clumping of red blood cells due to the presence of a virus or antibodies. It is commonly used in laboratory assays to detect viral infections and determine antibody levels.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Hemagglutination involves the interaction between antigens on red blood cells and antibodies or viruses that cause clumping.
2. It is a key method to diagnose influenza and other viral infections by detecting the presence of specific antibodies.
3. Hemagglutination assays can be quantitative, measuring the concentration of viral particles or antibodies present in a sample.
4. The Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test is used to measure antibody titers against specific viruses, such as influenza.
5. Factors such as pH, temperature, and ionic strength can affect hemagglutination reactions.

Review Questions

Related terms

Agglutination:

The clumping of particles, typically cells or bacteria, due to an antigen-antibody reaction.

Antigen:

A substance that induces an immune response, often by binding to specific antibodies.

Titer:

The concentration of a substance in solution as determined by titration, often referring to antibody levels in serological tests.