FREE Medical Laboratory Technician Immunology and Serology Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real Medical Laboratory Technician Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 FREE Medical Laboratory Technician Immunology and Serology Questions and Answers flashcards as text
Which immunoglobulin class is most abundant in serum and provides the majority of antibody-based immunity against invading pathogens?
Answer: IgG
IgG is the most abundant immunoglobulin in serum, comprising approximately 75-80% of total serum immunoglobulins.
In a direct antiglobulin test (DAT), what does a positive result indicate?
Answer: Antibodies or complement are bound to the surface of red blood cells in vivo
A positive DAT indicates that antibodies or complement components have attached to red blood cells in the patient's circulation.
Which complement pathway is activated by antigen-antibody complexes involving IgG or IgM?
Answer: Classical pathway
The classical complement pathway is initiated when C1q binds to antigen-antibody complexes containing IgG or IgM.
A patient presents with recurrent Neisseria infections. Which complement component deficiency is most likely?
Answer: C5-C9 (membrane attack complex)
Deficiencies in terminal complement components C5-C9 are strongly associated with recurrent Neisseria infections due to impaired bactericidal activity.
What is the principle behind nephelometry as used in clinical immunology laboratories?
Answer: Measurement of light scattered by antigen-antibody complexes in solution
Nephelometry measures the intensity of light scattered by immune complexes formed in solution to quantify specific proteins.
Which serological test is considered the confirmatory test for HIV infection after a reactive screening immunoassay?
Answer: HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay
Current CDC-recommended algorithms use an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay as the supplemental test following a reactive initial immunoassay.