🛡️ Immunology and Serology Review for the MedTech Board Exam

What the Immunology & Serology course covers

1. Unit 1: Antigens & Antibodies

   Antigens, antibodies, the five immunoglobulin classes and the antibody response.

   Antigens & antibodies · The five immunoglobulins · Primary & secondary response

2. Unit 2: Complement

   The three activation pathways, anaphylatoxins and the membrane attack complex.

   Three ways to switch it on · Anaphylatoxins & the attack complex

3. Unit 3: Cells & Organs of Immunity

   T cells, B cells, NK cells, phagocytes, lymphoid organs, and natural versus acquired immunity.

   T lymphocytes · B cells & killer cells · Phagocytes & lymphoid tissues · Natural vs acquired immunity

4. Unit 4: MHC, HLA & Transplants

   MHC classes, HLA inheritance and testing, graft types, rejection and immunosuppression.

   MHC classes · HLA inheritance & testing · Grafts & rejection · Immunosuppression

5. Unit 5: Hypersensitivity

   The four types of hypersensitivity reactions.

   Types I & II · Types III & IV

6. Unit 6: Autoimmunity

   How self-tolerance fails, organ-specific diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and ANA testing.

   When tolerance fails · Rheumatoid arthritis · Systemic lupus erythematosus · ANA patterns

7. Unit 7: Immunodeficiency

   Phagocyte defects, B-cell, T-cell and combined deficiencies, and HIV.

   Phagocyte defects · B, T & combined defects · HIV & AIDS

8. Unit 8: Immunology Lab Methods

   Agglutination, precipitation, electrophoretic methods, labeled immunoassays and cellular tests.

   Agglutination tests · Precipitation & diffusion · Immunoelectrophoresis & IFE · Labeled immunoassays · Nephelometry, neutralization & cell tests

9. Unit 9: Syphilis Serology

   The stages of syphilis and the nontreponemal and treponemal tests.

   Syphilis: the disease · Syphilis tests

10. Unit 10: Viral Hepatitis

    Hepatitis A and E, hepatitis B markers, and hepatitis C and D.

    Hepatitis A & E · Hepatitis B markers · Hepatitis C & D

11. Unit 11: More Infection Serology

    Streptococcal antibodies, infectious mononucleosis, rubella, febrile agglutinins and Lyme disease.

    Streptococcal serology · Infectious mononucleosis · Rubella & febrile agglutinins · Lyme disease

12. Unit 12: Acute Phase & Tumor Immunology

    Acute-phase proteins, tumor biology, oncogenes and tumor markers.

    Acute-phase proteins · Tumor biology · Tumor markers

Sample Immunology & Serology board exam questions

A few practice questions from the course, with explanations. Thousands more are in the app.

1. 1. Penicillin triggers antibody only after binding a serum protein. Penicillin acts as a:

   1. Adjuvant
   2. Hapten
   3. Complete immunogen
   4. Carrier protein
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Hapten

   Penicillin is too small to trigger antibody on its own. Once it binds a carrier protein (such as albumin), the complex is large enough to activate T and B cells, and the antibody that forms can react with penicillin alone. That is the definition of a hapten.

2. 2. The classical complement pathway starts when C1q binds to:

   1. Mannose-binding lectin
   2. Factor B
   3. Antigen–antibody complexes (IgM or IgG)
   4. Microbial surfaces directly
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Antigen–antibody complexes (IgM or IgG)

   C1q needs two Fc regions close together to activate. One pentameric IgM bound to antigen provides them, while IgG needs two molecules side by side. That is why IgM fixes complement much better than IgG.

3. 3. CD4 marks:

   1. Helper T cells
   2. NK cells
   3. Cytotoxic T cells
   4. B cells
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Helper T cells

   CD4 is the marker of helper T cells, which recognize antigen on MHC class II and direct the immune response with cytokines. CD8 marks cytotoxic T cells, CD19/CD20 mark B cells and CD56 marks NK cells.

4. 4. MHC class I molecules present peptides to:

   1. B cells
   2. CD4 helper T cells
   3. Neutrophils
   4. CD8 cytotoxic T cells
   Show answer

   Answer: D. CD8 cytotoxic T cells

   MHC class I is on all nucleated cells and shows peptides made inside the cell, such as viral proteins. CD8 binds class I, so cytotoxic T cells can find and kill infected cells.

5. 5. Anaphylaxis after a bee sting is hypersensitivity type:

   1. IV
   2. III
   3. I
   4. II
   Show answer

   Answer: C. I

   In type I hypersensitivity, allergen cross-links IgE already bound to mast cells and basophils, releasing histamine and other mediators within minutes. Severe whole-body release is anaphylaxis, treated with epinephrine.

6. 6. Anti-CCP is useful because it is:

   1. More specific for rheumatoid arthritis than RF
   2. A marker of drug-induced lupus
   3. Specific for lupus
   4. Found only in Sjögren syndrome
   Show answer

   Answer: A. More specific for rheumatoid arthritis than RF

   Rheumatoid factor appears in many conditions (other autoimmune diseases, infections, older age). Anti-CCP is much more specific for rheumatoid arthritis (about 95%), can appear years before symptoms and predicts more severe disease.

7. 7. Chronic granulomatous disease is a defect in:

   1. NADPH oxidase, so phagocytes cannot make a respiratory burst
   2. B-cell maturation
   3. Thymus development
   4. C1 inhibitor
   Show answer

   Answer: A. NADPH oxidase, so phagocytes cannot make a respiratory burst

   Without NADPH oxidase, neutrophils and macrophages cannot make superoxide and other oxygen radicals to kill ingested microbes. Catalase-positive organisms (S. aureus, Aspergillus, Serratia) survive, causing recurrent infections and granulomas.

8. 8. In Ouchterlony double diffusion, precipitin lines that join in a smooth arc show:

   1. Partial identity
   2. Non-identity
   3. Identity
   4. No reaction
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Identity

   If two wells contain the same antigen, antibody reacts with both and the precipitin lines join in a smooth arc (identity). Lines that cross mean different antigens (non-identity). A spur means the antigens share some epitopes (partial identity).

Practice more Immunology & Serology questions

How you review in MedTech Reviewer

• Learning path: short lessons, each followed by questions, with a checkpoint at the end of every unit.
• Spaced repetition: questions you miss come back sooner, so key facts stick for exam day.
• Flashcards and timed quizzes in exam style, with an explanation for every answer.
• Board-readiness score per subject, so you know where to focus.
• Arcade games, PvP battles and Guilds to keep reviewing fun with classmates.

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