II. Definitions
- Agglutinin
- Agglutinogen
- Antigens to which Agglutinins (e.g. antibodies) bind, resulting in Agglutination
- Agglutination
- Flocculation
- Similar to Agglutination, but the aggregated complexes are smaller, finer and of a cloudy appearance
- Hemagglutination
- Red Blood Cell aggregation by Agglutinins
- Direct Agglutination (Active Agglutination)
- Antigen-Antibody complexes readily agglutinate without aid of other agents
- Original Agglutination technique used by Lancefield et. al. in the 1920s to identify Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus strains
- Indirect Agglutination (Passive Agglutination, Latex Agglutination)
- Agglutination of particles is made evident by attaching Antigen to inert substances (typically latex beads)
- Latex Agglutination (Latex Fixation)
III. Types: Hemagglutination Examples
- ABO Typing
- Combine patient's Red Blood Cells with known anti-A serum and observe for Agglutination
- Combine patient's Red Blood Cells with known anti-B serum and observe for Agglutination
-
Direct Coombs Test
- Detects presence of antibodies that have already bound to Red Blood Cells (e.g. Hemolytic Anemia)
- Antiglobulin (Antibody to Antibody) is added to a patient's blood sample
- Agglutination occurs if the patient's Red Blood Cells are coated with Antibody against the Red Blood Cells
-
Indirect Coombs Test
- Detects presence of antibodies that may bind to specific Red Blood Cells when exposed (e.g. pre-transfusion, Rh factor)
- Donor Red Blood Cells are added to patient's serum
- Antiglobulin (Antibody to Antibody) is added to the combined sample
- Agglutination occurs if the patient has Antibody to the donor's Red Blood Cells
- Cold Agglutinins
- Autoantibodies to Red Blood Cells that are activated by cold
- Cold Agglutinins are present in low levels in normal patients
- Cold Agglutinins may increase with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Lymphoma and other conditions
- Cold Agglutinins may also be increased in a rare Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
- Heterophil Antibody (Mononucleosis)
IV. Types: Direct Agglutination Examples
-
VDRL (Syphilis Screening, requires confirmation)
- Based on finding that Treponema organisms release cardiolipin Antigen
- Colorless Alcohol based solution of beef cardiolipin, Cholesterol, and lecithin is added to patient's serum
- Fluid is examined on glass slide for microflocculation
- Microflocculation suggests possible Syphilis, but has high False Positive Rate and requires confirmation
- RPR (Syphilis Screening, requires confirmation)
- Modified VDRL test using charcoal bound cardiolipin, easier to detect without microscope
- RPR test is performed on a detection card and can be read with the naked eye
- Widal Test (Typhoid Fever, requires confirmation)
- Salmonella typhiAntigen is exposed to patient's serum
- Agglutination suggests possible Typhoid Fever, but has a high False Positive Rate and requires confirmation
V. Types: Latex Agglutination Examples
-
Rheumatoid Factor
- Rheumatoid Factor is an Antibody to the Fc portion of IgG found in Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Latex Agglutination test in which IgG-coated latex beads are exposed to a patients serum
- Rheumatoid Factor IgM in a patient's serum will agglutinate the suspended beads
-
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (Urine bHCG or qualitative Pregnancy Test)
- Patient urine is mixed with anti-HCG antibodies
- HCG-coated latex particles added to the patient's urine
- Agglutination occurs if the patient is NOT pregnant (xHCG binds HCG-coated latex)
- Agglutination does NOT occur if patient is pregnant (xHCG binds HCG in urine)
VI. Resources
- Agglutination Assay (Lumen Microbiology)
VII. References
- Goldberg (2014) Clinical Physiology, Medmaster, Miami, p. 83-5
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
Definition (MSH) | The clumping together of suspended material resulting from the action of AGGLUTININS. |
Concepts | Molecular Function (T044) |
MSH | D000371 |
SnomedCT | 82383000 |
English | Agglutination, Agglutination, function, agglutinations, Agglutination, function (observable entity), Agglutination (function), agglutination |
Swedish | Agglutination |
Czech | aglutinace |
Finnish | Agglutinaatio |
Russian | AGGLIUTINATSIIA, АГГЛЮТИНАЦИЯ |
Croatian | AGLUTINACIJA |
Polish | Aglutynacja |
Norwegian | Agglutinasjon, Sammenklumping |
Spanish | aglutinación (entidad observable), aglutinación (función), aglutinación, Aglutinación |
French | Agglutination |
German | Agglutination, Verklumpung |
Italian | Agglutinazione |
Dutch | Agglutinatie |
Portuguese | Aglutinação |
Ontology: Agglutination Tests (C0001802)
Definition (MSH) | Tests that are dependent on the clumping of cells, microorganisms, or particles when mixed with specific antiserum. (From Stedman, 26th ed) |
Definition (CSP) | mixing of antibodies with their corresponding antigens on the surface of large, easily sedimented particles such as animal cells, erythrocytes, or bacteria; the antibodies cross-link the particles, forming visible clumps. |
Concepts | Laboratory Procedure (T059) |
MSH | D000372 |
SnomedCT | 73865004, 359818001, 359821004 |
English | Agglutination Test, Test, Agglutination, Tests, Agglutination, agglutination reaction, agglutination reactions, agglutination tests, agglutination testing, agglutination assay, agglutination test, Agglutination Tests, Agglutination tests, Agglutination procedure, Agglutination assay (procedure), Agglutination assay, Agglutination procedure (procedure), Agglutination assay, NOS, Agglutination procedure, NOS, Agglutination assay (procedure) [Ambiguous] |
Swedish | Agglutinationstester |
Czech | aglutinace - testy |
Finnish | Agglutinaatiokokeet |
French | Tests d'agglutination, Réactions d'agglutination |
Russian | AGGLIUTINATSII TESTY, АГГЛЮТИНАЦИИ ТЕСТЫ |
Croatian | AGLUTINACIJSKI TESTOVI |
Polish | Odczyny aglutynacyjne, Testy aglutynacyjne |
Norwegian | Agglutinasjonstester, Sammenklumpingstester |
Spanish | Tests de Aglutinación, procedimiento de aglutinación (procedimiento), procedimiento de aglutinación, prueba de aglutinación (concepto no activo), prueba de aglutinación (procedimiento), prueba de aglutinación, Pruebas de Aglutinación |
German | Agglutinationstests |
Italian | Prove di agglutinazione |
Dutch | Agglutinatietest, Agglutinatietests, Test, agglutinatie- |
Portuguese | Testes de Aglutinação |
Ontology: Agglutinins (C0001804)
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | A substance that makes particles (such as bacteria or cells) stick together to form a clump or a mass. |
Definition (CSP) | antibody or other substance that reacts with surface antigens of particles, such as red cells and bacteria, to agglutinate them. |
Definition (MSH) | Substances, usually of biological origin, that cause cells or other organic particles to aggregate and stick to each other. They include those ANTIBODIES which cause aggregation or agglutination of particulate or insoluble ANTIGENS. |
Concepts | Immunologic Factor (T129) |
MSH | D000373 |
SnomedCT | 44129008, 255627005 |
LNC | LP21377-4 |
English | Agglutinins, agglutinin, agglutinins, Agglutinin, Agglutinin, NOS, Agglutinin (substance) [Ambiguous], Agglutinins (substance), Agglutinin (substance) |
Swedish | Agglutininer |
Czech | aglutininy |
Finnish | Agglutiniinit |
Russian | AGGLIUTININY, АГГЛЮТИНИНЫ |
Croatian | AGLUTININI |
Polish | Aglutyniny |
Spanish | aglutinina (concepto no activo), aglutinina (sustancia), aglutinina, Aglutininas |
French | Agglutinines |
German | Agglutinine |
Italian | Agglutinine |
Portuguese | Aglutininas |
Ontology: flocculation (C0016243)
Definition (MSH) | The aggregation of suspended solids into larger clumps. |
Definition (GO) | The reversible, non-sexual aggregation of single-celled organisms in suspension to form aggregates of many cells known as flocs. [GOC:jl, GOC:vw, PMID:21114594, PMID:8740415] |
Concepts | Cell Function (T043) |
MSH | D005427 |
SnomedCT | 13402008 |
English | Flocculation, Flocculations, Flocculation, function, Flocculation, function (observable entity), Flocculation (function), flocculation |
Swedish | Flockulering |
Czech | flokulace, vločkování |
Finnish | Flokkulaatio |
Russian | FLOKKULIATSIIA, ФЛОККУЛЯЦИЯ |
Croatian | FLOKULACIJA, PAHULJANJE |
Polish | Kłaczkowanie, Flokulacja |
Norwegian | Not Translated[Flocculation] |
Spanish | floculación (entidad observable), floculación (función), floculación, Floculación |
French | Floculation |
German | Ausflockung |
Italian | Flocculazione |
Dutch | Flocculatie |
Portuguese | Floculação |
Ontology: Flocculation Tests (C0016244)
Definition (MSH) | Precipitin tests which occur over a narrow range of antigen-antibody ratio, due chiefly to peculiarities of the antibody (precipitin). (From Stedman, 26th ed) |
Concepts | Laboratory Procedure (T059) |
MSH | D005428 |
SnomedCT | 5818005 |
English | Flocculation Tests, Test, Flocculation, Tests, Flocculation, Flocculation Test, flocculation test, Flocculation test, Flocculation test (procedure) |
Swedish | Flockuleringstest |
Czech | flokulační testy |
Finnish | Flokkulaatiokokeet |
French | Tests de floculation, Réactions de floculation |
Russian | FLOKULIATSII TESTY, ФЛОКУЛЯЦИИ ТЕСТЫ |
Croatian | FLOKULACIJSKI TESTOVI |
Polish | Próby kłaczkowania, Testy kłaczkowania |
Norwegian | Flokkuleringstester, Flokkulasjonstester |
Spanish | Tests de Floculación, prueba de floculación (procedimiento), prueba de floculación, Pruebas de Floculación |
German | Flockungstests |
Italian | Prove di flocculazione |
Dutch | Flocculatietest, Test, flocculatie- |
Portuguese | Testes de Floculação |
Ontology: Hemagglutination (C0018903)
Definition (MSH) | The aggregation of ERYTHROCYTES by AGGLUTININS, including antibodies, lectins, and viral proteins (HEMAGGLUTINATION, VIRAL). |
Concepts | Molecular Function (T044) |
MSH | D006384 |
English | Hemagglutinations, haemagglutination, hemagglutination, Hemagglutination |
Swedish | Hemagglutination |
Czech | hemaglutinace |
Finnish | Hemagglutinaatio |
French | Agglutination des hématies, Hémagglutination |
Russian | GEMAGGLIUTINATSIIA, ГЕМАГГЛЮТИНАЦИЯ |
Croatian | HEMAGLUTINACIJA |
Polish | Hemaglutynacja |
Norwegian | Hemagglutinasjon, Sammenklumping av erytrocytter |
German | Hämagglutination |
Italian | Emoagglutinazione |
Dutch | Hemagglunatie |
Portuguese | Hemaglutinação |
Spanish | Hemaglutinación |
Ontology: Latex Fixation Tests (C0023117)
Definition (HL7V3.0) | <p>Agglutination, Latex</p> |
Definition (MSH) | Passive agglutination tests in which antigen is adsorbed onto latex particles which then clump in the presence of antibody specific for the adsorbed antigen. (From Stedman, 26th ed) |
Concepts | Laboratory Procedure (T059) |
MSH | D007841 |
SnomedCT | 703448004, 43657008 |
HL7 | 0019 |
LNC | LP6360-4 |
English | Agglutination Test, Latex, Agglutination Tests, Latex, Fixation Test, Latex, Fixation Tests, Latex, Latex Agglutination Test, Latex Agglutination Tests, Latex Fixation Test, Test, Latex Agglutination, Test, Latex Fixation, Tests, Latex Agglutination, Tests, Latex Fixation, latex fixation test, latex particle agglutination test, LA, agglutination latex, latex agglutination, agglutination latex tests, latex agglutination tests, latex agglutination test, Latex agglutination test technique (qualifier value), Latex agglutination test technique, Latex agglutination, LA - Latex agglutination, Latex agglutination test (procedure), Latex agglutination test, Latex agglutination test, NOS, Latex Fixation Tests |
Swedish | Latexagglutinationstester |
Czech | latex fixační testy, latex aglutinační testy |
Finnish | Lateksiagglutinaatiokokeet |
German | Latex-Fixationstests, Latex-Agglutinationstests |
Russian | LATEKS-TEST, LATEKS-AGGLIUTINATSII TESTY, ЛАТЕКС-АГГЛЮТИНАЦИИ ТЕСТЫ, ЛАТЕКС-ТЕСТ |
French | Tests de fixation au latex, Tests d'agglutination au latex, Tests au latex |
Italian | Test di agglutinazione al lattice, Test di fissaggio mediante lattice |
Croatian | LATEKS, FIKSACIJSKI TESTOVI, LATEKS, TEST AGLUTINACIJE |
Polish | Testy aglutynacyjne lateskowe, Testy lateksowe, Odczyny lateksowe |
Japanese | ラテックス吸着テスト, ラテックス吸着試験, ラテックス凝集反応, ラテックス凝集法 |
Norwegian | Lateks fiksasjonsprøver, Lateks agglutinasjonstester |
Spanish | Tests de Fijación de Látex, prueba de aglutinación del látex (procedimiento), prueba de aglutinación del látex, Pruebas de Fijación de Látex, Tests de Aglutinación de Látex |
Dutch | Latexagglutinatietest, Latexfixatietest, Latexfixatietests |
Portuguese | Testes de Aglutinação do Látex, Testes de Fixação do Látex |
Ontology: Passive agglutination test (C0201291)
Concepts | Laboratory Procedure (T059) |
SnomedCT | 15921006 |
English | Passive agglutination test, Passive agglutination test (procedure) |
Spanish | prueba de aglutinación pasiva (procedimiento), prueba de aglutinación pasiva |
Ontology: Agglutinogen (C0301851)
Concepts | Immunologic Factor (T129) |
SnomedCT | 72358008 |
English | agglutinogen, agglutinogens, Agglutinogen, Agglutinogen (substance) |
Spanish | aglutinógeno (sustancia), aglutinógeno |
Ontology: Direct agglutination (C0441687)
Concepts | Molecular Function (T044) |
SnomedCT | 258015005 |
English | Direct agglutination, function, Direct agglutination, Direct agglutination, function (observable entity), Direct agglutination (qualifier value) |
Spanish | aglutinación directa (entidad observable), aglutinación directa |