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Omar Adwan Explains Antibody Detection with the HI Test
Omar Adwan/LinkedIn
Sep 26, 2025, 14:40

Omar Adwan Explains Antibody Detection with the HI Test

Omar Adwan, Medical Laboratory Technologist of Modawah lab center, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) Test:

1. Objective

To identify and measure antibodies that inhibit the ability of viruses to agglutinate red blood cells (RBCs)

2. Principle

Certain viruses (like Influenza) have surface proteins (hemagglutinins) that cause RBCs to clump together (hemagglutination).

If a patient’s serum contains specific antibodies, they will bind to the virus and block hemagglutination.

Thus, no agglutination = positive inhibition = antibodies present.

3. Materials

Patient serum sample

Viral antigen (e.g., Influenza virus)

Red blood cells (usually chicken, guinea pig, or human O-type)

Microtiter plates (V-bottom or U-bottom)

Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)

Micropipettes

4. Procedure

  1. Heat inactivate the patient serum (to remove non-specific inhibitors).
  2. Prepare serial dilutions of serum in microtiter plate wells.
  3. Add a constant amount of virus antigen to each well.
  4. Add a standardized suspension of RBCs.
  5. Incubate and observe results.

5. Results

Positive (Inhibition): A clear button of RBCs at the bottom of the well (no agglutination). Indicates presence of antibodies.

Negative (No Inhibition): RBCs form a diffuse lattice across the well (agglutination occurs). No antibodies present.

The HI titer is the highest serum dilution that completely inhibits hemagglutination.

6. Uses

Diagnosis of viral infections (e.g., Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Rubella).

Measurement of antibody titers after vaccination.

Surveillance of circulating viral strains.

7. Conclusion

The HI test is a simple, sensitive, and widely used method for detecting virus-specific antibodies and plays a key role in vaccine development and viral epidemiology.”

Omar Adwan Explains Antibody Detection with the HI Test

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Antibodies Health Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) Hemagglutinins Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis Today Influenza Measles Medicine Modawah lab center Mumps Omar Adwan Red Blood Cells (RBCs) Rubella
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