agglutinates

Agglutinates are aggregates formed when particles adhere to one another or are cemented together by a binding agent. The term is used across disciplines to describe either biological clumps created by agglutination or geological or archaeological masses consisting of small particles fused or cemented together.

In immunology, agglutination is the clumping together of cells or particles caused by antibodies that cross-link surface antigens. Substances capable of causing this clumping are called agglutinins, while the clumps themselves are referred to as agglutinates. Agglutination reactions underpin many diagnostic tests, including blood typing and rapid antigen tests.

In microbiology and clinical serology, agglutination assays detect bacteria or other targets by producing visible clumps, as in latex agglutination tests in which antigen- or antibody-coated beads form aggregates.

In planetary science, agglutinates describe glassy, micrometeorite-derived particles that are fused and cemented into regolith, creating glass-rich soils on bodies such as the Moon. These agglutinitic materials retain information about impact processes and the history of the surface.

In archaeology and materials science, agglutination refers to the binding of loose fragments or grains into a coherent mass, often via a cementing matrix or adhesive.

Etymology: from Latin agglutinare "to glue to," via agglutination; the term is used as both verb and noun across contexts.