agglutination test

Thân thiện

A technician performs an agglutination test in a laboratory.

Definition

Noun: A laboratory blood test that identifies unknown antigens by observing the clumping (agglutination) of cells. The test involves mixing a blood sample containing an unknown antigen with a known antibody. The presence or absence of agglutination helps determine the identity of the antigen.

Usage

This term is used specifically in medical, immunological, and diagnostic contexts. - It is a standard procedure in clinical laboratories. - The result is reported as positive (agglutination occurs) or negative (no agglutination).

Examples

• The doctor ordered an agglutination test to determine the patient's blood type before the transfusion.
• Diagnosis of the bacterial infection was confirmed using a specific agglutination test.
• In tissue matching for organ transplants, an agglutination test is a critical step.

Advanced Usage

• Direct agglutination test: A test where antigens are naturally part of a particle (like a red blood cell or bacterium) and are directly agglutinated by antibodies.
• Passive (or indirect) agglutination test: A test where antigens are artificially attached to carrier particles (like latex beads) to detect antibodies in a sample.

Variants and Related Words

• Agglutination (n): The process of clumping together, which is the observable reaction in the test.
• Agglutinin (n): The antibody that causes agglutination.
• Hemagglutination test (n): A specific type of agglutination test using red blood cells as the antigen carriers.

Synonyms

• Serological test (This is a broader category; an agglutination test is a type of serological test.)
• Clumping test (A less technical, descriptive synonym.)

Notes on Meaning

This term refers exclusively to the diagnostic procedure. It is not used as a general verb or in non-scientific contexts. The core principle is the specific antigen-antibody reaction resulting in visible clumping.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a blood test used to identify unknown antigens; blood with the unknown antigen is mixed with a known antibody and whether or not agglutination occurs helps to identify the antigen; used in tissue matching and blood grouping and diagnosis of infections