In which technique is the antiserum applied directly to the plate using strips of agarose or cellulose acetate?

Immunofixation is a technique that involves the direct application of antiserum to a gel, such as agarose or cellulose acetate. This method is employed to identify and characterize specific proteins, particularly immunoglobulins, in a sample. During the procedure, proteins in the sample are first separated using electrophoresis. Following separation, the gel is incubated with the antiserum, which contains antibodies that specifically bind to the target proteins of interest. The reaction forms a complex, allowing for the visualization of the proteins that correspond to the antibodies in the antiserum.

This technique is particularly useful in clinical laboratories for the diagnosis of various conditions, including monoclonal gammopathies and certain autoimmune disorders. The specificity of the antibodies in the antiserum leads to a more precise identification of the proteins, making immunofixation a valuable tool in immunology.

The other methods listed have different applications and do not involve the direct application of antiserum to the plate in the same manner. For example, gel electrophoresis is used mainly for separating molecules based on size but does not typically involve the use of antiserum directly on the gel. Western blotting also involves the transfer of proteins after electrophoresis and requires