Immunodiffusion
Immunodiffusion (pronounced: im·mu·no·dif·fu·sion) is a technique used in laboratory settings to measure the amount of antibody in a patient's serum. The term is derived from the words 'immune' (from Latin immunis, meaning 'exempt') and 'diffusion' (from Latin diffusionem, meaning 'a pouring out').
Overview
Immunodiffusion involves the diffusion or movement of antigens and antibodies towards each other. When they meet, they form a line of precipitation which can be seen with the naked eye. The distance moved by the antigen or antibody is directly proportional to the concentration of the antibody or antigen. This technique is used to detect and measure the levels of specific antibodies in the serum, which can help in diagnosing various diseases.
Types of Immunodiffusion
There are two main types of immunodiffusion: Radial Immunodiffusion and Ouchterlony Double Diffusion.
Radial Immunodiffusion
In Radial Immunodiffusion, the antigen diffuses out of a central well into a gel that contains a specific antibody. The diameter of the resulting precipitate ring is measured and compared with a standard curve to determine the concentration of the antigen.
Ouchterlony Double Diffusion
In Ouchterlony Double Diffusion, both the antigen and antibody diffuse towards each other in a gel. When they meet, they form a line of precipitation. This technique is often used to compare antigens or antibodies from different sources.
Applications
Immunodiffusion is used in various fields of medicine and biology, including immunology, microbiology, and virology. It is used to diagnose diseases such as aspergillosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis. It is also used to detect and measure specific antibodies in the serum, which can help in diagnosing and monitoring the progress of various diseases.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Immunodiffusion
- Wikipedia's article - Immunodiffusion
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