Ouchterlony diffusion is best described as which type of immunodiffusion method?

Ouchterlony diffusion is best described as which type of immunodiffusion method?

• A. Single-diffusion
• B. Double-diffusion
• C. Immunoelectrophoresis
• D. Electrophoresis

Answer: (B)

Ouchterlony diffusion relies on two-way movement in a gel: both antigen and antibody diffuse through the agar and meet to form a visible line of precipitation. That makes it a double-diffusion immunodiffusion method. It differs from single-diffusion, where only one component moves through a medium containing a fixed partner. It also isn’t immunoelectrophoresis or electrophoresis, which use an electric field to drive movement. The resulting precipitation lines reveal how related the antigens are, based on the pattern of lines formed (identity, partial identity, or non-identity).

Ouchterlony diffusion relies on two-way movement in a gel: both antigen and antibody diffuse through the agar and meet to form a visible line of precipitation. That makes it a double-diffusion immunodiffusion method. It differs from single-diffusion, where only one component moves through a medium containing a fixed partner. It also isn’t immunoelectrophoresis or electrophoresis, which use an electric field to drive movement. The resulting precipitation lines reveal how related the antigens are, based on the pattern of lines formed (identity, partial identity, or non-identity).