Microscopic agglutination test (MAT)

Question 1

what do they produce

Answer 1

they produce visible aggregates of antibody-antigen complexes

Question 2

what is it used to diagnose

Answer 2

leptospirosis

Question 3

lepto has diverse genes so when conducting mat we”

Answer 3

don’t only use ONE antigen but a PANEL of antigens

Question 4

what does a panel consist of

Answer 4

different serovars

Question 5

what is the panel of antigens aligned with

Answer 5

species of animal

Question 6

why is selection of panel of antigens extremely important

Answer 6

due to the lack of cross reactivity between serogourps of leptospira

Question 7

is MAT quantitative or qualitative

Answer 7

both

Question 8

quantitative part of MAT

Answer 8

establishes whether antibodies to a specific leptospirosis serve exist

Question 9

qualitative part of MAT

Answer 9

may be positive or negative

Question 10

if MAT resultst is positive… then?

Answer 10

quantitative MAT is performed to establish the quantitiy of antibodies (the titre)

Question 11

what is the end point titre?

Answer 11

the final dilution of serum at which more than 50% of the leptospirosis are agglutinated (less than 50% remain free)