| MIF | macrophage inhibitory factor; melanocyte[-stimulating hormone]-inhibiting factor; maximum inspirator... |
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| MRF | Markov random field; medical record file; melanocyte-[stimulating hormone]-releasing factor; mesence... |
| NF | nafcillin; National Formulary; nephritic factor; neurofibromatosis; neurofilament; neutral fraction;... |
| RF | radial fiber; radio frequency; receptive field; regurgitant fraction; Reitland-Franklin [unit]; rela... |
| CFA | colonization factor antigen; colony-forming assay; complement-fixing antibody; complete Freund's adj... |
| immunocytochemical assay | Involves the computerised assessment of microscopic fields following direct fluorescent antibody, indirect fluorescent antibody or indirect or direct immunoperoxidase analysis of biopsy tissue from the patient. In addition to improved specificity with the removal of operator subjectivity, the quantifiability of results through computer data analysis of colour, intensity and concentration has only begun to be realised. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| immunoradiometric assay | <immunology> A test that measures the concentration of antigens in a specimen throughserological analysis that involves mixing radioactive antibodies with the antigen in question. (09 Oct 1997) |
| indirect assay | For antibody; an application of the ELISA method in which serum being tested for antibody is added to wells coated with known antigen; presence of antibody bound to the antigen coat can be determined by addition of immunoglobulin-specific antibody to which is linked the enzyme of the indicator system, followed by addition of substrate to the washed aggregate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Ouchterlony assay | <investigation> Immunological test for antigen antibody reactions in which diffusion of soluble antigen and antibody in a gel leads to precipitation of an antigen-antibody complex, visible usually as a whitish band. The system has the advantage that, because of radial diffusion of the reagents, a very wide range of ratios of antigen to antibody concentration develop, thus it is likely that precipitation will occur somewhere in the gel even when no care is taken with quantitation of the system. (18 Nov 1997) |
| EAC rosette assay | <haematology> Rosettes formed from erythrocytes (E) coated with antibody (A) and complement (C). A test for C3b or C3bi receptors (CR1 or CR3). The rosettes form more easily then E or EA rosettes. See: E rosettes. (16 Mar 2000) |
| enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay | <investigation> The enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay is serologic test used as a general screening tool for the detection of antibodies to the HIV virus. Reported as positive or negative. Since false positive tests due occur (for example recent flu shot), positives will require further evaluation using the western blot. ELISA technology links an a measurable enzyme to either an antigen or antibody. In this way, it can then measure the presence of an antibody or an antigen in the bloodstream. Acronym: ELISA (27 Sep 1997) |
| enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay | An immunoassay utilizing an antibody labelled with an enzyme marker such as horseradish peroxidase. While either the enzyme or the antibody is bound to an immunosorbent substrate, they both retain their biologic activity; the change in enzyme activity as a result of the enzyme-antibody-antigen reaction is proportional to the concentration of the antigen and can be measured spectrophotometrically or with the naked eye. Many variations of the method have been developed. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tumour stem cell assay | <investigation> A cytologic technique for measuring the functional capacity of tumour stem cells by assaying their activity. It is used primarily for the in vitro testing of antineoplastic agent. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Farr type assay | <investigation> Method of radioimmunoassay in which free antigen remains soluble and antibody antigen complexes are precipitated. (18 Nov 1997) |
| 17-ketogenic steroid assay test | A colourimetric test, based on the Zimmermann reaction, which indicates metabolites or adrenal and testicular steroids excreted as 17-ketones in the urine; increased values are most striking in adrenocortical tumours, decreased values in Addison's disease or in panhypopituitarism. Synonym: ketogenic corticoids test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| focus-forming assay | <investigation> A lab technique used to find out if a particular piece of DNA contains oncogenes (genes which are associated with cancer). This is done by putting the DNA into animal cells which normally show contact inhibition, or which stop growing when they come into physical contact with other cells or reach a certain density in the culture. If the cells lose contact inhibition and form areas of densely-packed cells (called foci) after receiving the DNA, it means that the DNA did contain oncogenes. (05 Jan 1997) |
| leukocyte adherence assay test | A test to detect the ability of leukocytes to adhere to bacteria, performed in vitro using nylon fibres to measure adherence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| leukocyte bactericidal assay test | A test of leukocytes to determine their ability to kill a culture of live bacteria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| LH assay | A blood test which measures the amount of luteinising hormone (LH). LH is a protein hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. In women, a surge in LH at midcycle causes ovulation. For the next 7-10 days LH maintains the corpus luteum which synthesises progesterone. The corpus luteum disintegrates after about 10 days if fertilization does not occur. In men, LH stimulates production of testosterone by the Leydig cells in the testes. This test may be used to evaluate anovulatory bleeding, infertility, ovarian cysts and multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) I. Normal values in males: 7 to 24 U/L. Normal values in females: greater than 6-30 U/L. Greater than normal values can indicate: anorchia, hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, menopause, ovarian failure, polycystic ovary disease, precocious puberty and Turner's syndrome. Lower than normal values can indicate hypopituitarism. (27 Sep 1997) |
| Lowry-Folin assay | A method for determining protein concentrations using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Synonym: Lowry-Folin assay. (05 Mar 2000) |