Sheep Red Blood Cell RBC Antibody

Anti-SHEEP Red Blood Cell Antibody may be used in hemagglutination assays. Haemagglutination assay or HA is a method of quantification for viruses or bacteria by hemagglutination. Some viral families and many bacteria have envelope or surface proteins which are able to agglutinate (stick to) human or animal red blood cells (RBC) and bind to N-acetylneuraminic acid. As each of the agglutinating molecule attaches to multiple RBCs, a lattice-structure will form. Normally, a virus dilution (e.g. 2-fold from 1:4 to 1:4096) will be applied to an RBC dilution (e.g. 0.1% to 0.7% in steps of 0.2%) for approx. 30 min, often at 4° C, otherwise viruses with neuraminidase activity will detach the virus from the RBCs. Then the lattice forming parts will be counted and the titer calculated. The titer of a hemagglutination assay is determined by the last viable "lattice" structure found. This is because it is at the point where, if diluted anymore, the amount of Virus particles will be less than that of the RBCs and thus not be able to agglutinate them together. Anti-SHEEP Red Blood Cell Antibody is used to sensitize erythrocytes and quantitate agglutination.