fluorescent antibody technique


fluor·es·cent an·ti·bod·y tech·nique

a technique for antigen using a fluorescent antibody, usually performed by one of two methods: direct, immunoglobulin (antibody) conjugated with a fluorescent dye is added to tissue and combines with specific antigen (microbe or other), the resulting antigen-antibody complex located by fluorescence microscopy; or indirect, unlabeled immunoglobulin (antibody) is added to tissue and combines with specific antigen, after which the antigen-antibody complex is labeled with fluorescein-conjugated antiimmunoglobulin antibody with the resulting triple complex located by fluorescence microscopy.

fluor·es·cent an·ti·bod·y tech·nique

(flōr-es'ĕnt an'ti-bod-ē tek-nēk') A procedure to test for antigen with a fluorescent antibody by one of two methods: direct, in which immunoglobulin (antibody) conjugated with a fluorescent dye is added to tissue and combines with specific antigen (microbe, or other), the resulting antigen-antibody complex being located by fluorescence microscopy; or indirect, in which unlabeled immunoglobulin (antibody) is added to tissue and combines with specific antigen, after which the antigen-antibody complex may be labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody, the resulting triple complex then being located by fluorescence microscopy.

fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) or immunofluorescence

a technique used to show up the presence of a particular ANTIGEN, in which an antibody is labelled with a fluorescent dye (fluorochrome) that combines with the antigen and is subsequently located by its FLUORESCENCE.