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Ch. 18 - Practical Applications of Immunology
Tortora - Microbiology: An Introduction 14th Edition
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTortora 14th EditionCh. 18 - Practical Applications of ImmunologyProblem 9
Chapter 18, Problem 9

Test used to detect the presence of antibodies in a patient’s serum.
a. Direct fluorescent antibody
b. Indirect fluorescent antibody
c. Rabies immune globulin
d. Killed rabies virus
e. None of the above

Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the purpose of the test: it is designed to detect antibodies present in a patient's serum, which means we are looking for a method that identifies antibodies rather than antigens or providing treatment.
Review the options given: options a and b involve fluorescent antibody techniques, option c is a treatment (immune globulin), option d is a vaccine (killed virus), and option e is none of the above.
Recall that a direct fluorescent antibody test uses fluorescently labeled antibodies that bind directly to antigens in a sample, so it detects antigens, not antibodies.
Recall that an indirect fluorescent antibody test uses an unlabeled primary antibody from the patient’s serum that binds to the antigen, followed by a fluorescently labeled secondary antibody that binds to the primary antibody, thus detecting antibodies in the serum.
Conclude that the test used to detect antibodies in a patient’s serum corresponds to the indirect fluorescent antibody technique (option b).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Antibody Detection Methods

Antibody detection methods identify specific antibodies in a patient's serum to diagnose infections or immune status. Techniques like direct and indirect fluorescent antibody tests use labeled antibodies to visualize antigen-antibody reactions, helping detect immune responses.
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Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) Test

The DFA test uses fluorescently labeled antibodies that bind directly to antigens in a sample. It detects the presence of specific pathogens by visualizing fluorescence under a microscope, but it does not detect antibodies in serum.
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Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA) Test

The IFA test detects antibodies in a patient's serum by using an unlabeled antigen and a fluorescently labeled secondary antibody that binds to the patient's antibodies. This method is commonly used to confirm exposure or immune response to infections.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

A purified protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is injected into a person’s skin. A hardened, red area develops around the injection site within 3 days.

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Textbook Question

In an agglutination test, eight serial dilutions to determine antibody titer were set up: Tube 1 contained a 1:2 dilution; tube 2, a 1:4, and so on. If tube 5 is the last tube showing agglutination, what is the antibody titer?

a. 5

b. 1:5

c. 32

d. 1:32

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Textbook Question

Test used to identify rabies virus in the brain of a dog.

a. Direct fluorescent antibody

b. Indirect fluorescent antibody

c. Rabies immune globulin

d. Killed rabies virus

e. None of the above

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Textbook Question

Match the following serological tests in column A to the descriptions in column B.

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Textbook Question

Match each of the following tests in column A to its positive reaction in column B.

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Textbook Question

How does the antigen in an agglutination reaction differ from that in a precipitation reaction?

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