Immune Function Testing Lecture Powerpoint

Question 1

Who should be tested for immune functioning?

Answer 1

• Adults/pediatric patients with recurrent infections that consistently get sick and cannot get over it
• Those with opportunistic infections
• those with suspicion of or family history of immune deficiency disease

Question 2

Complement plays a role in both ___ and ____

Answer 2

innate and adaptive immunity

Question 3

Most common type of WBC in blood stream

Answer 3

Neutrophil

Question 4

Eosinophils target ___ cells and play a role in ___. They do not respond to ____

Answer 4

large cells too big for ingestion, allergies, viral infection

Question 5

Baophils do not ____ foreign cells, play a role in ___, and do not respond to ____

Answer 5

ingest, allergies, viral infection

Question 6

Natural killer cell function

Answer 6

Recognize and attach to infected cells or cancer cells regardless of MHC and damage the outer membranes as part of the innate defense

Question 7

Classical pathway of complement activation

Answer 7

Antibody binds to and exposes complement binding sites on the foreign cell invader, complement proteins then for the membrane attack complex to tear cell apart

Question 8

Alternative pathway of complement activation

Answer 8

Directly binds to the polysaccharides of microbial cell walls and forms the membrane attack complex to tear cell apart

Question 9

What is the common protein between the classical and alternative pathway of complement activtation? Why is this one extra important to measure?

Answer 9

C3, it allows assessment of both classical and alternate pathways

Question 10

Interferons

Answer 10

A type of cytokine that interferes with the reproduction of viruses

Question 11

Screening test for innate granulocytes

Answer 11

CBC with diff (lab analysis) and peripheral blood smear (microscopic observation)

Question 12

Screening test for complement

Answer 12

Serum total hemolytic complement (TCH50 or CH50)

Question 13

Critical values for WBC count

Answer 13

2500

Question 14

Pancytopenia

Answer 14

Decrease in all blood cell lines (WBC and RBC)

Question 15

Leukopenia

Answer 15

Decrease in WBC count

Question 16

A 0 on a screening test for complement indicates….

Answer 16

…. deficiency in 1 or more components

Question 17

What is the complement function test most useful in diagnosing (2)

Answer 17

• angioedema
• post streptococcal nephritis
• SLE nephritis
• membranoproliferative nephritis

Question 18

Hereditary angioedema

Answer 18

Congenital reduced level of complement due to a lack of C1 inhibitor so it is used up resulting in drop in serum levels when measured on a complement funciton test

Question 19

Immune complexes effect on complement system

Answer 19

-overly activated by the complexes resulting in decreased levels measured on a complement function test

Question 20

Elevated complement on a complement function test indicates these 4 pathologies

Answer 20

• rheumatic fever
• MI
• ulcerative colitis
• cancer

Question 21

B cells don’t only produce antibodies and memory cells, but are also…

Answer 21

….APC’s

Question 22

IgG 3 key facts

Answer 22

• constitutes the majority of circulating antibodies
• crosses the placenta
• fixes complement

Question 23

Elevation of IgM in new born indicates…

Answer 23

…in utero infection such as rubella or CMV

Question 24

Anergy panels and what antigens are commonly used to test them?

Answer 24

a test for T cell immune function to show a patient who previously demonstrated cell mediated immunity to an antigen no longer demonstrates the response, often found in HIV patients, lymphomas, etc. Common antigens used to test are candida and mumps

Question 25

What is the go to screening test for B cell immune function? How does it work?

Answer 25

Quantitative serum immunoglobulin via protein electrophoresis,patterning of blood protein bands according to charge is indicative of chronic diseases that immunosuppress patients

Question 26

What is the largest peak on a quantitative serum immunoglobulin via protein electrophoresis assay

Answer 26

Albumin

Question 27

Who should undergo allergy testing? (2)

Answer 27

• Patients with rhinitis uncontrolled by medications and allergy avoidance
• Previous suspected systemic rxn to food or sting

Question 28

In order to undergo RAST or skin testing, a patient needs to be not taking what 2 groups of medications?

Answer 28

• antihistamines

- glucocorticoids