Агглютинация

Агглютинация (от латинского agglutinatio — склеивание), склеивание в комочки и выпадение в осадок из однородной взвеси бактерий, клеточных элементов крови и др. А. происходит под воздействием особых веществ антител — агглютининов, накопляющихся в сыворотке крови человека или животных при различных инфекционных заболеваниях или иммунизации. Реакция А. используется для определения групп крови, вида и типа микробов многих инфекционных заболеваний и т. п.

Agglutination is the clumping of particles. The word agglutination comes from the Latin agglutinare, meaning "to glue to."

This occurs in biology in three main examples:

1. The clumping of cells such as bacteria or red blood cells in the presence of an antibody. The antibody or other molecule binds multiple particles and joins them, creating a large complex.

2. The coalescing of small particles that are suspended in a solution; these larger masses are then (usually) precipitated.

3. An allergic reaction type occurrence where cells become more compacted together to prevent foreign materials entering them. This is usually the result of an antigen in the vicinity of the cells.

Hemagglutination is when the particles involved are red blood cells. The agglutin is called hemagglutinin.

In cross-matching, agglutination occurring when donor red blood cells and recipient's serum or plasma are incubated together indicates that the donor blood is incompatible for that particular recipient.

Agglutination is commonly used as a method of identifying specific bacterial antigens, and in turn, the identity of such bacteria. Because the clumping reaction occurs quickly and is easy to produce, agglutination is an important technique in diagnosis.