Zeta
Potential
- the electrical
potential that forms between particles which
prevents them from
coming in close proximity to each other.
- when antibodies and antigens are suspended
in a saline solution the
zeta potential keeps them apart for a distance of 25 nm. Antibody classes can span a distance of:
IgG:
IgM:
14 nm
35 nm
- thus IgG
antibodies must either have the zeta potential
lowered or
the antigens must be forced closer
together (centrifugation) before
agglutination will occur
- another way to visualize that IgG has in
fact attached to the antigen
is to add anti-Human Globulin (antibodies to
IgG) which then link the
attached IgG to form Ag-AB compexes
