Why Does Hemagglutination Occur?

Hemagglutination is a reaction that causes clumping of red blood cells in presence of some enveloped viruses, such as the influenza virus. A glycoprotein on the viral surface, namely hemagglutinin, interacts with red blood cells, leading to the clumping of red blood cells and the formation of a lattice.

Why does haemagglutination happen?

This is the result of the haemagglutinin part of the haemagglutinin/neuraminidase viral protein binding to receptors on the membrane of red blood cells. The linking together of the red blood cells by the viral particles results in clumping. This clumping is known as haemagglutination.

What is the principle of haemagglutination test?

The principle behind the hemagglutination test is that the nucleic acids of viruses encode proteins, such as hemagglutinin, that are expressed on the surface of the virus (Figs.