Haemagglutination

Haemagglutination is a specific form of agglutination that involves red blood cells (RBCs). It is commonly used in the identification of blood types.

Overview

Haemagglutination is a process that causes red blood cells to clump together, usually in response to an antigen or antibody. This reaction is used in many laboratory tests, including those for blood typing, virus detection, and immunology studies.

Process

Haemagglutination occurs when antigens on the surface of red blood cells interact with corresponding antibodies in the plasma. This interaction causes the cells to stick together, forming clumps that can be seen under a microscope. The presence or absence of these clumps can provide important information about the blood type or the presence of certain diseases.

Applications

Haemagglutination is used in a variety of medical and scientific applications. These include:

• Blood Typing: The most common use of haemagglutination is in blood typing. By adding specific antibodies to a sample of blood, it is possible to determine the blood type based on whether or not agglutination occurs.

• Virus Detection: Some viruses, such as the influenza virus, cause haemagglutination. This can be used as a method of detecting the presence of these viruses in a sample.

• Immunology Studies: Haemagglutination can also be used in immunology studies to determine the presence and concentration of specific antibodies in the blood.

Haemagglutination Test

The haemagglutination test is a laboratory procedure used to detect the presence of certain viruses or antibodies in a blood sample. The test involves mixing the blood sample with a known antigen or antibody and observing whether or not agglutination occurs.

See Also

• Agglutination (biology)
• Blood typing
• Antigen
• Antibody
• Influenza

Haemagglutination Resources
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