What does IDCF mean in HUMAN GENOME

ImmunoDiffusion Complement Fixation is a laboratory technique used to measure the presence and concentration of specific antibodies present in a sample. It combines two existing lab tests, immunodiffusion and complement fixation, in order to accurately determine the amount of antibodies present in a sample.

Immunodiffusion is an agglutination-based test which detects antigen-antibody reactions by measuring how far an antibody migrates in liquid medium when an antigen is introduced. Complement fixation is an antibody- based test which detects antigen-antibody reactions by detecting if an antibody has been “fixed” or bound to its target antigen through the use of complements.

In IDCF, the samples are mixed with both antigens and complements before being placed on gel or agar plates where they are allowed to migrate. The molecules move as they bind and form large complexes that can be detected on the gel or agar plate once enough time has passed for them to settle into place. By measuring how far these complexes have migrated, it is possible to accurately detect the levels of antibodies present in a given sample.

IDCF can be used on many different types of samples, including whole serum, cell supernatants, culture media, body fluids such as saliva or urine as well as food products containing proteins. Samples must first be processed so that any potentially interfering components are removed or neutralized before conducting the test.

Advantages include its ability to detect low levels of antibodies in complex matrices like bodily fluids or food products; its high sensitivity; low cost; simple setup requirements; short assay time; and its ability to distinguish between different classes of antibodies such as IgG or IgM. Disadvantages include its relatively slow detection speed compared to other assays such as ELISA and its limited range of applications due to its reliance on highly specific antigens for detection purposes. Additionally, it requires expertise for proper sample preparation before the test can take place.