Immunological techniques in avian studies

There is a wide spectrum of techniques available to evaluate the functional aspects of the immune system in both humans and animals, including avian species. Some of the immunological techniques are qualitative and others are quantitative. In this paper, these techniques will be reviewed starting with a description of the nature of the antibody-antigen interaction, followed by the immune techniques that are used to detect immune complexes (i.e. antigen-antibody responses) whether free or associated with cells, then the numerous immune markers or parameters that are used to measure the avian immune responses.