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MLPAO Immunology and Serology Flashcards

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

Read the first 7 MLPAO Immunology and Serology flashcards as text

  1. Which immunoglobulin class is the first to be produced during a primary immune response?

    Answer: IgM

    IgM is the first antibody class produced during a primary immune response due to its pentameric structure that allows effective complement activation before affinity maturation occurs.

  2. In the complement system, which pathway is activated by antigen-antibody complexes?

    Answer: Classical pathway

    The classical pathway is activated by antigen-antibody (immune) complexes when IgG or IgM antibodies bind to C1q, initiating the complement cascade.

  3. A patient's serum is tested by ELISA for HIV antibodies. Which component is coated onto the microplate wells?

    Answer: HIV antigens

    In an indirect ELISA for antibody detection, the target antigen (HIV proteins) is coated onto the plate to capture any specific antibodies present in the patient's serum.

  4. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is responsible for anaphylaxis?

    Answer: Type I (immediate)

    Type I (immediate) hypersensitivity is IgE-mediated and causes mast cell degranulation, releasing histamine and other mediators that produce anaphylaxis within minutes.

  5. The prozone phenomenon in serology occurs when:

    Answer: Antibody is in great excess, preventing lattice formation

    Prozone occurs when antibody is in great excess relative to antigen, causing all antigen sites to be occupied by individual antibodies rather than forming the cross-linked lattice needed for visible agglutination.

  6. Which cell type is responsible for producing antibodies?

    Answer: Plasma cells

    Plasma cells are terminally differentiated B lymphocytes specifically designed to produce and secrete large quantities of antibodies.

  7. A direct Coombs test (direct antiglobulin test) detects:

    Answer: Antibodies bound to patient's red blood cells in vivo

    The direct antiglobulin test detects IgG or complement already bound to the patient's red blood cells in vivo, as occurs in autoimmune hemolytic anemia or hemolytic transfusion reactions.