agglutination

(ă-gloot″ĭn-ā′shŏn)

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[L. agglutinare, to glue to]

1. A type of antigen-antibody reaction in which a solid cell or particle coated with antigens drops out of solution when it is exposed to a previously soluble antibody. The particles involved commonly include red blood cells, bacteria, and inert carriers such as latex. Agglutination also refers to laboratory tests used to detect specific antigens or antibodies in disease states. When agglutination involves red blood cells, it is called hemagglutination.
2. Adhesion of surfaces of a wound.

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