Agglutineringstest

Agglutineringstest, also known as an agglutination test, is a serological laboratory test used to detect the presence of specific antibodies or antigens in a sample. It relies on the principle that when antibodies bind to their corresponding antigens, they cause the particles (such as red blood cells or bacteria) to clump together, a process called agglutination. This clumping is a visible, qualitative result that indicates a positive reaction.

The test is performed by mixing a sample, such as serum or whole blood, with a known antigen or antibody solution. If the sample contains the corresponding antibody, it will bind to the antigen, causing the visible clumping. Conversely, if the sample contains the antigen, it will bind to the added antibody, also resulting in agglutination. The degree of agglutination can sometimes provide semi-quantitative information, though precise quantification usually requires further dilution steps.

Agglutination tests have a wide range of applications in medical diagnostics. They are commonly used to determine blood groups in blood transfusions, identify bacterial or viral infections by detecting the presence of antibodies against them, and diagnose various autoimmune diseases. For example, the Widal test for typhoid fever and the VDRL test for syphilis utilize agglutination principles. The simplicity and relatively low cost of agglutination tests make them valuable tools in many clinical settings, particularly in resource-limited environments.