PRECIPITIN TESTS Meaning and
Definition
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Precipitin tests, also known as precipitin reactions or precipitin assays, are laboratory techniques used to detect and identify the presence of specific antigens in a sample. Antigens are any substances that can trigger an immune response in an organism.
In a precipitin test, a specific antiserum that contains antibodies against the antigen of interest is mixed with the sample suspected to contain the antigen. Antisera are blood sera that contain specific antibodies, which are obtained by injecting the corresponding antigen into an animal such as a rabbit or a goat. If the antigen is present in the sample, it will form immune complexes with the corresponding antibodies from the antiserum.
These immune complexes then undergo a precipitation reaction, which results in the formation of visible clumps or precipitates. The presence of precipitates indicates a positive reaction and confirms the presence of the specific antigen in the sample. The precipitates can be observed visually or detected using various methods such as turbidity measurement or immunodiffusion techniques.
Precipitin tests have a wide range of applications in various fields including medical diagnostics, immunology research, and forensic science. They are particularly useful in identifying pathogenic microorganisms or detecting the presence of specific proteins in biological samples. Precipitin tests provide a rapid and reliable method for antigen detection and have been widely used for many years in the field of immunology.
Common Misspellings for PRECIPITIN TESTS
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Etymology of PRECIPITIN TESTS
The word "precipitin" is derived from the Latin word "praecipitare" which means "to throw down" or "to precipitate". In the context of immunology, "precipitin" refers to an antibody that causes precipitation, or the formation of insoluble complexes, when it reacts with an antigen.
The term "precipitin test" is composed of two parts: "precipitin" and "test". "Test" comes from the Old French word "teste" or "test", which means "an examination" or "a trial". Therefore, a "precipitin test" is a type of examination or trial that involves the use of precipitins, or antibodies that can cause precipitation reactions.
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