Elution
Definition
The release of antibody from antigen, typically by heating to 56-70 degrees Celsius. In the absorption-elution method, this step liberates the antibody captured on the stain so it can be identified by testing against known cells.
- Temperature range
- 56-70 degrees Celsius
- Releases
- Antibody from bound antigen
- Used in
- Absorption-elution ABO typing
Common questions
What happens if the elution temperature is too low?+
Antibody bound to the stain fails to release fully, weakening or producing a false-negative agglutination reaction when the eluate is later tested against known indicator cells.
What comes after elution in the ABO workup?+
The eluate is tested against known A, B, and O indicator red cells. Agglutination with a given cell type identifies which antibody was captured on the stain, and hence its blood group.
Related terms
- Absorption
- The purification technique in which a crude antiserum is mixed with antigen preparations from cross-reacting species. Cross-reactive antibodies bind those antigens and...
- Indicator Cells
- Commercially prepared or freshly washed red cells of known ABO group used to detect antibody activity in an eluate or residual antiserum....
- Inhibition Index
- A quantitative measure of PCR inhibitor burden in a DNA extract, derived from the Ct shift of an internal positive control (IPC)...
- Mixed Agglutination
- A microscopy-based technique in which indicator cells form rosette aggregates around antigen-bearing stain material via antibody bridges. Positive results are read as...
- Titre
- The concentration of antibody in a solution, expressed as the reciprocal of the highest dilution at which agglutination is still visible. A...