Environmental Factors
•Hydrogen ion concentration (pH): 6.5 to 7.5
•Temperature:
•Ionic strength:
•Zeta potential:  on next slide
E changes in pH may cause ionization of amino acids
E     and may lead to changes configuaration in Ag or Ab or both
E certain classes of antibodies react most strongly at
E     specific temperatures:
•IgG:
•IgM:
•37oC
•4oC - 27oC
•E temperatures above 40oC may denature proteins, alter
•      idiotypes, and decrease Ag-Ab complex stability
E low salt concentrations promote specific Ag-Ab binding
E     thus low ionic strength (LISS) solutions used to promote  Ag-Ab interactions in blood bank testing