Histoplasma complement fixation is a blood test that checks for signs of infection due to a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum (H. capsulatum). Some people who breathe in particles of this fungus may get an infection called histoplasmosis.
See also:
Histoplasma antibody test
How the test is performedYou will need to give a blood sample.
The complement fixation test checks the blood for antibodies to H. capsulatum. Antibodies defend the body against bacteria, viruses, fungus, or other foreign body (antigen). Certain cells tell the body to produce antibodies during an active infection. If the antibodies are present, they stick, or "fix" themselves, to the antigen. That is why the test is called "fixation."
The test specifically looks for the antibodies in the clear liquid portion of the blood (serum). This general term for this method is called serology.
How to prepare for the testThere is no special preparation for the test.
How the test will feelYou may feel a prick or stinging sensation when the needle is inserted to draw your blood. Some people may have moderate pain. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performedHistoplasma complement fixation is one of the most commonly used methods to test for a fungal infection caused by H. capsulatum.
Normal ValuesThe absence of antibodies (negative test) is normal.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal results may indicate an active histoplasmosis infection.
People who have been exposed to H. capsulatum in the past may also have antibodies to it, often at low levels. However, they may not have shown signs of illness.
Note: In the initial stage of an illness, few antibodies may be detected. Antibody production increases during the course of an infection. For this reason, such tests are often repeated several weeks after the first test is done..
What the risks areVeins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
Kauffman CA. Histoplasmosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 353.
Laboratory tests. a complement fixation (CF) test is based on.if antibodies are formed in the body in response to the illness, then the antigen and the antibody will form complexes.The serum complement fixation.confirms the presence of antibodies.
Laboratory tests. a complement fixation (CF) test is based on.if antibodies are formed in the body in response to the illness, then the antigen and the antibody will form complexes.The serum complement fixation.confirms the presence of antibodies.
The CFT full form of civil work is Complement Fixation Test.
Yes
Complement-fixation Test
For a complement fixation test, you will need serum samples from the patient being tested, heat-inactivated complement serum, specific antigen-antibody complexes, an indicator system to visualize complement activity, saline or buffer solutions, and control samples. The test is used to detect the presence of specific antibodies in the patient's serum by measuring the level of complement fixation.
Complement Fixation
complement fixation
The principle of complement-fixation test involves the detection of antibodies by measuring the ability of a patient's serum to fix and consume complement in the presence of a specific antigen. If antibodies are present in the sample, they will fix complement, leading to a decrease in complement activity that can be detected. This test is often used to diagnose infections such as syphilis and certain viral diseases.
complement fixation and activation of the antibody
Opsonization Chemotaxis
One result of complement fixation is the formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC) on the surface of the foreign cell. The MAC creates pores in the cell membrane, leading to cell lysis and ultimately cell death.