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Glite Dictionary
precipitin

precipitin

1 9.9
A blood protein that joins a foreign substance and makes it form solid bits in liquid
  • noun
  • /prɪˈsɪpɪtɪn/
  • Specialized
: precipitin
  • Scientists studied how each precipitin reacted with various antigens.

Examples

  • A strong precipitin response is essential for some types of allergy testing.

  • The laboratory test detected the presence of precipitin in the blood sample.

  • The precipitin test is used to identify specific antibodies.

  • Many precipitins can react with various antigens.

  • The precipitin test confirmed the presence of animal blood in the sample.

  • Using a precipitin reaction, the scientist was able to isolate specific proteins from the mixture.

  • They conducted a study utilizing precipitin to identify the source of the contamination in the water supply.

Synonyms

precipitant
vsprecipitin
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A substance that makes a solid form in a liquid during a reaction

is a biological antibody that makes a matching antigen form an insoluble complex

Surface Forms

precipitin singular
precipitins plural

Etymology

The word precipitin comes from the verb precipitate, which means 'to make fall out', and the ending -in which is used for proteins. Think of precipitate like 'precipitation' or rain that makes things fall — a precipitin makes its antigen 'fall' out of a liquid, which is exactly what this antibody does.