1. Serological test
M.Sc. Sarah Ahmed

2. Serological test
Serology is the scientific study of serum and other bodily fluids.
In practice, the term usually refers to the diagnostic identification of antibodies in the serum Such antibodies are typically formed in response to an infection (against a given microorganism(
Some serological tests are not limited to blood serum, but can also be performed on other bodily fluids such as semen and saliva, and Spinal fluid (CSF) which may contain antibodies.

3. C-reactive protein (CRP)
C-reactive protein (CRP) test is a blood test that measures the amount of a protein called C-reactive protein in your blood. C-reactive protein measures general levels of inflammation in your body.
High levels of CRP are caused by infections and many long-term diseases. But a CRP test cannot show where the inflammation is located or what is causing it. Other tests are needed to find the cause and location of the inflammation

4. CRP Test Principle
CRP Test is based on the latex agglutination method.
 When latex particles complexed human anti-CRP are mixed with a patient’s serum containing C reactive proteins, an visible agglutination reaction will take place within 2 minutes.

5. Agglutination of latex particles is considered a positive reaction, indicating the presence of C-reactive protein at a significant and detectable level. Specimens which do not contain human CRP will not cause agglutination.

6. Anti Streptolysin O (ASO) Test
It is a rapid latex agglutination test for the qualitative and semi-quantitative determination of anti-streptolysin-O antibodies (ASO) in serum. In infections caused by  β-haemolytic streptococci.
  streptolysin-O is one of the two hemolytic exotoxins  liberated from the bacteria that stimulates production of  ASO antibodies in the human serum. 
The presence and the level of these antibodies in a serum may reflect the  nature and severity of infection.

7. A test sample is considered to contain ASO antibodies in excess of 200 IU/ml when agglutination (clumping) is observed when compared to the result of the negative control.

8. THE END