hemagglutinin inhibition test
Quick Summary
The hemagglutinin inhibition test is a type of serological test used to detect antibodies. Hemagglutinins are glycoproteins that cause red blood cells to clump together, or agglutinate. These substances are found in various organisms, including viruses like those that cause influenza and measles.12
In the case of influenza viruses, hemagglutinin helps the virus attach to host cells, facilitating infection. The immune system produces antibodies against these viral hemagglutinins. In a hemagglutinin-inhibition test, if antibodies are present in a person's or animal's blood, they will prevent the agglutination of red blood cells. This test is a diagnostic tool within the broader category of immunologic blood tests that utilize antigen-antibody reactions to assess the immune system.13
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