Phagocytosis tests evaluate the function of immune cells called macrophages. The test involves growing macrophages and exposing them to particles to observe how many cells engulf them and how fast they operate. The test can provide insight into the strength of the immune system and can be used to test the effectiveness of vaccines. The test is affected by drugs, environmental factors, and vaccines. Standardization and careful handling of samples are important for accurate results.
A phagocytosis test is a laboratory test designed to evaluate the function of specialized immune cells known as macrophages. There are numerous types of phagocytosis tests used in the laboratory, including commercially available tests and tests custom developed for specific laboratories or experiments. In this test, a collection of macrophages is created and grown before being exposed to particulate matter to see how many cells engulf the particles and how fast they operate. This test has several applications.
Macrophages are an important part of the immune system. They work by engulfing particles of material encountered in the body, acting as a cleaning service to eliminate infectious agents, the remains of infections and any foreign material. In a person with a strong immune system, these cells will be very active. In a weakened immune system, there are fewer macrophages and they are less functional. The phagocytosis assay provides insight into how active cells are in the body.
The cells are introduced into a culture with a foreign material inoculated with something that can be used as a tracer. Commonly, fluorescent tags are attached to the material, allowing people to observe macrophage activity under a microscope under specialized lighting. When phagocytic activity is high and cells work rapidly to engulf material, it is indicative of a strong and aggressive immune system. People can also examine how cells respond to particular types of materials, such as when testing the effectiveness of vaccines.
A number of things can affect macrophage activity and alter the results of a phagocytosis test. Drugs can boost or undermine immune function, and people also respond to environmental factors such as exposure to disease and allergens. Vaccinations can teach the immune system to recognize specific antigens, and in a phagocytosis array, the level of macrophage response can be quantified to study a vaccine. If a vaccine malfunctions, the cells will not be very active, indicating that the inoculated patient is not safe from the disease.
As with other laboratory tests, the system used to perform a phagocytosis array is standardized and people are expected to follow a laboratory manual or directions on a particular test product. This is intended to make test results repeatable while also carefully controlling the quality. Samples should be handled with care to avoid contamination and all observations made during the phagocytosis test are noted, as they can provide important information that can be used in repeat tests or future studies.
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