what is immunofluorescent?what type of test in immunofluorescent?what r the advantages and disadvantages?

Question

i want more infomation on immunofluorescent.types of test it is?? whats principal they used. and how is the test procedure..
what advantages and disadvantages of it??
please help....i need it fast..

Answer 1

Immunofluorescence is a group of laboratory techniques in which you attach a fluorescent compound to a specific protein in cells, by means of an antibody against that protein.

For example, let's say you want to know if the cells in a particular culture are producing protein X. You purchase (or make) an antibody against protein X by injecting an animal with protein X, allowing its body to produce an antibody against the injected substance, and then drawing some of its blood serum. Companies which sell such antibodies offer them labeled with various fluorescent compounds, like fluorescein, phycoerythrin, etc. I get my labeled antibody, dilute it, and put a small amount of it on the cell culture. If protein X is present anywhere in the cell culture, the antibody quickly attaches to that specific protein and no other, dragging along with it the fluorescent label. I can then place the cells on a fluorescence microscope, and look for the fluorescent compound. Anyplace I see it indicates the presence of protein X at that precise location.

The great advantage of such techniques is that you can identify thousands of different substances in cells and tissues, using just one or a very few techniques, simply by using the appropriate antibody. The chief disadvantage is cost. One milliliter of antibody can cost several hundred dollars.