In an indirect immunofluorescent assay, what would be the outcome of an improper wash after the antibody-enzyme conjugate is added?

Study for the Stevens Immunology-Serology Test. Explore flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed explanations and hints. Get exam ready now!

Multiple Choice

In an indirect immunofluorescent assay, what would be the outcome of an improper wash after the antibody-enzyme conjugate is added?

Explanation:
In indirect immunofluorescent assays, washing after adding the labeled secondary antibody is essential to remove any unbound conjugate. If the wash is improper, excess antibody-enzyme conjugate remains in the specimen and can produce fluorescence even in areas without specific antigen binding. This raises background signal and amplifies the overall readout, making the results appear higher than the true specific signal. So the outcome is a falsely increased result.

In indirect immunofluorescent assays, washing after adding the labeled secondary antibody is essential to remove any unbound conjugate. If the wash is improper, excess antibody-enzyme conjugate remains in the specimen and can produce fluorescence even in areas without specific antigen binding. This raises background signal and amplifies the overall readout, making the results appear higher than the true specific signal. So the outcome is a falsely increased result.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy