Antibody detection

Antibody detection is crucial for the differential diagnosis of many different pathological conditions. Determination of specific antibodies to bacterial and viral pathogens as well as to parasites enables the correct therapeutic measures to be taken. Antibodies to organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases are predictive for prognosis and detection of IgE class antibodies is essential for the diagnosis of immediateHYPERSENSITIVITYreactions.Methods for detection of antibodies include immunoprecipitation assay, in which Ag-Ab complex aggregates are detected, often by hemagglutination; immunocytochemistry, forin situAb detection in tissue slices; immunoblotting (dot blot technique) whereby Ag-Ab aggregates are trapped on membranes and then detected with a secondary Ab to yield spots; and immunosorbent assays, which are similar to immunoblotting but, by using a tagged secondary antibody, allow the primary antibody to be quantified. A variety of immunosorbent kits are available which permit rapid, specific, accurate and sensitive detection particularly of IgE antibodies.