Full Form Of CFT

What is the full form of CFT?

CFT stands for Complement Fixation Test, one of the key traditional tests in blood serum diagnostic analysis. It helps identify antibodies in serum samples of a person depending on whether fixation exists or not. Wasserman developed CFT in 1909 and it was primarily used during syphilis serology.

Workings of CFT

• Globulin, a protein found in normal blood serum is known as a complement.
• The antigen-antibody reaction produces an antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) immune complex. The complement binds to it.
• Lysis of the cell upon which the Ag-AB complex develops happens due to the fixation of complement to the complex results.
• A complement fixes or attaches to the complex of antigen-antibody when it participates in complexes of antigen-antibody.
• When the complex is on bacteria, red blood cells, or any other cells, the complement induces the lysis of the concerned cells.
• The terminal elements of the complement harm the cell membranes when a specific antibody that fixes the supplement to the cell surface is present.
• CFT uses target cell erythrocytes to assess the complementary induced membrane harm with an increase in free haemoglobin.
• A complement in the process is attached to the Ag-Ab group. Due to this, no leftover complement can respond with antibodies belonging to the erythrocytes, completely eliminating hemolysis. This happens when particular antibodies are found in the blood serum in reaction to an infectious agent.
• Lack of hemolysis indicates the existence of particular antibodies in the blood serum.
• Thus, if hemolysis develops, the particular antibody is not found in the blood serum.

Advantages of CFT

• Can help detect a huge proportion of viral and bacterial infections simultaneously.
• Cost-effective.