I.  Introduction

•  clinical microbiology laboratory plays vital role in diagnosing infectious diseases
  
• number of methods are used by clinical microbiologists

III.  Direct Detection of Microorganism

    A.  Microscopy
 
 

    B.  Molecular Biology Techniques
 
 

IV.  Isolation and Identification

    A.  Bacteria

• generally grow on artificial media
   
   

VII.  Serology

•  high antibody titers
  
  
•  IgM vs. IgG
   
   

INVITRO ANTIBODY-ANTIGEN INTERACTIONS

I.  Introduction

• Serology
  
  
• Immunology assays

II.  Agglutination Reactions

• Insoluble antibody or antigen
  
• Uses a carrier particle
  
• e.g.
  • latex agglutination
    
  • rapid plasma reagin (RPR)
    

III.  Precipitation Reaction

• Both antibody and antigen are soluble
  
• e.g.
  • single radial immunodiffusion (RID)
    

IV.  ELISA

• Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
  
• Very commonly used method
  
• Uses a solid phase
  

V.  Immunoblotting

    A. Western blot

    B. Dot blot

VI.  Immunofluorescence

• Fluorescent labeled (FITC) molecule
  
• e.g. Fluorescent Treponema pallidum antibody absorbance (FTA-ABS) test