immunoelectrophoresis

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Definitions from WordNet

Noun immunoelectrophoresis has 1 sense

immunoelectrophoresis - electrophoresis to separate antigens and antibodies
--₁ is a kind of electrophoresis, cataphoresis, dielectrolysis, ionophoresis

Definitions from the Web

Immunoelectrophoresis

Immunoelectrophoresis is a laboratory technique that combines electrophoresis and immunodiffusion to separate and identify proteins based on their electrophoretic mobility and antigen-antibody interactions.

Sense 1: Laboratory Technique

In the field of immunology, immunoelectrophoresis is commonly used to analyze the protein composition of blood or other bodily fluids. It involves the migration of protein samples through a gel matrix under the influence of an electric field. By introducing specific antibodies, immunoelectrophoresis can distinguish and quantify different proteins.

Sample Sentence:

Immunoelectrophoresis can help diagnose and monitor various immunological disorders, such as multiple myeloma.

Sense 2: Medical Diagnosis

In medical diagnostics, immunoelectrophoresis can be utilized to detect and measure specific proteins associated with certain diseases or conditions. This technique aids in the identification of abnormal protein patterns, which can be indicative of various disorders.

Sample Sentence:

The immunoelectrophoresis test confirmed the presence of specific antigens related to Lyme disease.

Sense 3: Research Tool

Immunoelectrophoresis is also extensively employed as a research tool in the study of immune responses and antibody-antigen interactions. It enables scientists to characterize and differentiate proteins based on their charge, size, and antigenic specificity.

Sample Sentence:

Researchers used immunoelectrophoresis to investigate the binding affinity between a specific virus and human antibodies.

Sense 4: Local Usage

In some local communities, especially within biomedical and immunology institutions, the term "immunoelectrophoresis" is often familiarly shortened to "IEP" or "weeping electrophoresis" due to the liquid nature of the gels used during the process.

Sample Sentence:

During the IEP experiment, the liquid components slowly migrated, resembling tearful movements, hence its colloquial name "weeping electrophoresis."