Skip to content

Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)

Definition

A serological HLA typing method in which test lymphocytes are incubated with HLA-specific antibody and then with complement. If the antibody binds, complement activation lyses the cell. Cell death is detected by dye uptake (trypan blue or eosin-Y) under a microscope. Positive wells (dead cells) identify which HLA antigens are present.

Related terms

HLA haplotype
The specific combination of HLA alleles inherited as a block on one copy of chromosome 6. Because HLA loci are tightly linked,...
HLA (human leukocyte antigen)
Cell-surface glycoproteins encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6p21. They present peptide antigens to T cells and are the...
Linkage disequilibrium
The non-random association of alleles at different loci within a population. Certain HLA allele combinations (e.g., HLA-A1 with HLA-B8 with HLA-DR3) occur...
Paternity index (PI)
A likelihood ratio that compares the probability of the observed serological profile if the alleged father is the biological father to the...
Sequence-specific primer PCR (SSP)
A molecular HLA typing method that uses primer pairs designed to amplify only if a specific allele sequence is present. Results are...

Explained in

Your journey to becoming a forensic professional starts here.

Practice with mock tests, learn from structured notes, and get your questions answered by a global forensic community, all in one place.