What does nephelometry detect?

Nephelometry is a technique that measures the scattering of light due to particles in a solution, which is particularly useful in detecting antigens-antibody complexes. When a light beam passes through a sample containing these complexes, the particles scatter the light in various directions. The amount of light scattered at a particular angle is proportional to the concentration of the particles in the solution, allowing for quantitative measurement.

This method is widely used in clinical laboratories for assessing immune responses and for quantifying substances such as proteins, immunoglobulins, and other biomolecules in bodily fluids. Thus, the ability to detect light scattering properties aligns directly with measuring the concentration and presence of antigen-antibody complexes within a sample.

In contrast, the other options do not relate to the principle of nephelometry. Measuring dissolved gases would typically involve different methods such as gas chromatography or mass spectrometry, while the presence of heavy metals in solutions would require techniques like atomic absorption spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Recruiting immune cells would be studied using flow cytometry or similar methods, focusing on cell counts and profiles rather than light scattering.