Ouchterlony assay

Definition

Ouchterlony assay is a method used to detect and visualize the formation of antigen-antibody complexes through double immunodiffusion in a gel. It provides qualitative information about the presence and specificity of antibodies or antigens.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ouchterlony assay involves placing antigen and antibody samples in wells cut into an agarose gel, allowing them to diffuse and form precipitation lines where they meet.
2. The pattern of precipitation lines can indicate whether multiple antigens share common epitopes.
3. It is commonly used for detecting specific antibodies in serum samples or identifying unknown antigens.
4. The technique requires careful control of conditions such as temperature and gel concentration for accurate results.
5. Ouchterlony assay does not provide quantitative data on antigen or antibody concentrations.

Review Questions

• What type of medium is used in Ouchterlony assays to allow diffusion of antigens and antibodies?
• How can you interpret the formation of precipitation lines in an Ouchterlony assay?
• Why is it important to control experimental conditions like temperature and gel concentration in an Ouchterlony assay?

Related terms

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: A technique that separates DNA, RNA, or proteins based on their size using an electric field applied to an agarose gel.

Radial Immunodiffusion: A method used to quantify the amount of antigen by measuring the diameter of precipitin rings formed around wells containing antibody.

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): A plate-based assay technique for detecting and quantifying substances such as peptides, proteins, antibodies, and hormones.