Defined as the study of the reactions of a host when foreign substances are introduced into the body.
Antigen
these are foreign substances that can induce immune response
It can be harmful/harmless
Antibody
Serum factors in the blood formed in response to foreign substance exposure.
produced by plasma cells
Serology
Study of serum
known for the qualitative detection or quantitative analysis of antibodies or antigens concerning infection or disease diagnosis
Immunity
can be defined as the way in which the body can protect itself from invasion by pathogenic microorganism and provide a defense against their harmful effect
Immunity is classified in to two major groups:
Non-specific immunity
Specific immunity
TWO TYPES OF ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY:
Active - (Natural Active ; Artificial Active)
Passive - (Natural Passive ; Artificial Passive)
ACTIVE ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY
1.Natural Active
Exposure to sub-clinicalinfections
2.Artificial Active
Vaccination
PASSIVE ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY
1.Natural Passive
Placental transfer of IgG
Colostral transfer of IgA
2.Artificial Passive
Antibodies or immunoglobulins
Immune cells
Antigens
molecules that reacts with antibodies
Compound that does not necessarily elicit an immune response
Target of response
PROPERTIES OF ANTIGENS
Immunogenicity
Antigenicity / Specificity
Immunogenicity
ability to induce specific response resulting to formation of antibodies or immune lymphocytes
Antigenicity/Specificity
the ability to react specifically with the antibody or cell that caused it to be produced
Immunogens
Molecule that induce an immune response
Non-self
At least 2 antigenic determinant
Haptens
Molecule that is NOT IMMUNOGENIC by itself but can react with a specific antibody: (1) Incomplete antigen , (2) Small molecules , (3)Univalent , and (4) High molecular weight nucleicacids
Antibody
A.K.A. IMMUNOGLOBULINS (A gamma globulin protein)
Antibody
Produced by “Plasma Cells”
ANTIBODY
They play an essential role during "Antigenrecognition ” and in biological activities related to immune response such as "opsonization ” and " complementactivation ”
Major Ig Classes:
5 classes/ Isotypes (constant heavychain)
IgG: gamma heavy chain
IgA: alpha heavychain
IgM: mu heavychain
IgE: epsilon heavy chain
IgD: Delta heavychain
Blood is collected aseptically by venipuncture into a clean, dry, sterile tube.
Care must be taken to avoid hemolysis, since this may produce a falsepositive test.
Serum should be promptly separated into another tube without transferring any cellular elements.
Fresh, non-heatinactivated serum is usually recommended for testing.
There are certain serological test that requires inactivated serum.
Like VDRL and FTA-Abs
Serum should be heated at 56 degrees C for 30 minutes
If testing cannot be performed immediately...
2 - 8 degrees C for up to 72 hrs, -20 degrees C if > 72 hours delay.
Depending on the scopeoftesting performed in an immunology laboratory, transporting and receiving patient specimens must be considered.
Regulations for packaging and labeling developed by the U.S. DepartmentofTransportation (DOT), the InternationalAirTransportAssociation (IATA), and the United Nations must be followed.
Characteristic of a transport container suspected infectious specimen
(DOT and IATA rules)
Watertightprimary containers made of glass, metal, or plastic with a positive (screw-on) cap.
Characteristic of a transport container suspectedinfectious specimen
(DOT and IATA rules)
The primary container must be wrapped with enough absorbent material to be capable of absorbing all of its contents. Multiple specimens must be wrapped individually prior to placing them in the leak-proof secondary container.
Characteristic of a transport container suspectedinfectious specimen
(DOT and IATA rules)
The secondary container is placed in a sturdy outer container made of corrugated fiberboard, wood, metal, or rigid plastic.
An itemizedlist of contents in a sealed plastic bag is also placed in the outer container.
Ice packs are placed between the secondary and the outer container.
Additional measures must be taken when using ice and dry ice.
In January 2007, labeling of the outer container changed. Theterms clinical specimen and diagnostic specimen have beenreplaced with biologicalsubstances, Category B. This wording is placed next to the label UN 3373.
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
Anti-HIV
Screening test for human immunodeficiency virus
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
Antinuclearantibody (ANA)
Detects nuclear autoantibodies
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
AntistreptolysinO (ASO) screen
Detects a previous Streptococcus infection
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
C-reactiveProtein (CRP)
Elevated levels indicate inflammatory disorders
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
Coldagglutinins
Elevated levels indicate a typical (Mycoplasma) pneumonia
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
Tests that evaluate the function of the immune system:
ComplementLevels
Immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) levels
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
Cytomegalovirusantibody (CMV)
Detects cytomegalovirus infection
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
Febrileagglutinins
Detect antibodies to microorganism causing fever
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section:
Fluorescentantinuclearantibody (FANA)
Detects and identifies nuclear autoantibodies
Tests performed in the Immunology/Serology Section: