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Immunology & Serology Flashcards

7 cards from real CMLA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Immunology & Serology flashcards as text

  1. Which method is most commonly used to detect rheumatoid factor (RF) in serum?

    Answer: Latex agglutination or nephelometry

    Rheumatoid factor (IgM antibody against the Fc portion of IgG) is detected by latex agglutination or nephelometry, where RF causes agglutination of IgG-coated particles.

  2. A positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test with a high titer is most strongly associated with:

    Answer: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

    A positive ANA, especially in high titers with specific patterns (homogeneous, speckled), is most characteristic of systemic lupus erythematosus.

  3. The direct antiglobulin test (DAT/direct Coombs) detects:

    Answer: Antibodies or complement already coating the patient's red blood cells in vivo

    The DAT adds antihuman globulin reagent directly to the patient's washed red blood cells to detect IgG or complement already bound to the cells in vivo.

  4. Which test is used as a confirmatory test for HIV infection following a positive ELISA screen?

    Answer: Western blot immunoassay

    Western blot is the standard confirmatory test for HIV, detecting specific viral protein bands (p24, gp41, gp120/160) that indicate true HIV infection.

  5. Heterophile antibodies detected by the monospot test are most associated with which disease?

    Answer: Infectious mononucleosis (EBV)

    Infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) stimulates production of heterophile antibodies that agglutinate horse or sheep red blood cells.

  6. A positive indirect antiglobulin test (IAT/indirect Coombs) indicates that:

    Answer: The patient's serum contains antibodies capable of binding to red blood cell antigens

    The IAT mixes patient serum with reagent red blood cells to detect unexpected antibodies in serum before they attach to cells, critical for crossmatching.

  7. According to CDC guidelines, which test is used to confirm a positive ELISA result in the two-tier testing approach for Lyme disease?

    Answer: Western blot (immunoblot)

    CDC recommends two-tier Lyme testing: sensitive ELISA screening followed by Western blot confirmation to detect specific Borrelia burgdorferi antibody bands.