Immunoglobulin M Assay Kit (IgM)
The immunoglobulin M assay kit is used for the quantitative determination of IgM in serum.
IgM is the most primitive and least specialised immunoglobulin. In adult serum it is the third must abundant immunoglobulin accounting for 5 to 10% of the circulating immunoglobulins. IgM is the first specific antibody to appear in serum after infection and it is capable of activating Complement thus helping to kill bacteria. Increased polyclonal IgM levels are found in viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cystic fibrosis. Monoclonal IgM is increased in Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia. Decreased levels of IgM are found in protein losing enteropathies and in burns
This assay is based on the reaction between IgM antigen and anti-IgM antibody. This reaction forms an insoluble complex producing a turbidity, which is measured spectrophotometrically. The amount of complex formed is directly proportional to the amount of IgMin the sample.
IgM Antigen + Anti-IgM Antibodies → Antigen/Antibody complex
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