An antigen is fixed to a microscope slide,then incubated with patient serum.After washing,fluorescently labeled anti-human immunoglobulin is applied.After an additional wash,the slide is inspected with a fluorescent microscope.This technique is called:

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This technique is called indirect immunofluorescence. The fluorescently labeled anti-human immunoglobulin binds to any human antibodies that may be present in the patient serum, and this allows visualization of the antibodies bound to the antigen on the microscope slide. Direct immunofluorescence would involve labeling the antigen directly with a fluorescent dye, rather than using a secondary antibody to detect the presence of human antibodies. Fluorescence polarization and autofluorescence are not relevant to this technique.

An Antigen Is Fixed to a Microscope Slide,then Incubated with Patient