Immunochemistry a scientific review

Agrawal Shashank*, Gupta Vishal, Mishra Aditya

ABSTRACT

The Development of immunochemistry and its application to biology and medicine have proceeded vigorously during the past few years. The New quantitative methods for precipitin analyses, for determination of haemolytic antibody and complement, and for complement fixation measurements, have become available. Tracer techniques, with distinctive chemical groups or radio-isotopes as labels, have been used extensively. There has been much work on the purification and characterization of antigen from plasma, milk, and egg-white and from various microorganisms, with results of practical medical importance. Immunochemistry offers simple, rapid, robust yet sensitive, and easily automated methods for routine analyses in clinical laboratories. Immunoassays are based on highly specific binding between an antigen and an antibody. An epitope (immunodeterminant region) on the antigen surface is recognized by the antibody’s binding site. The type of antibody and its affinity and avidity for the antigen determines assay sensitivity and specificity. As such the assay format, immunoassays can be qualitative or quantitative. They can be used for the detection of antibodies or antigens specific for bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases as well as for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. Immunoassays can measure low levels of disease biomarkers and therapeutic or illicit drugs in patient’s blood, serum, plasma, urine, or saliva.

Keywords: Immunochemistry, antibodies, antigens.