| NCHPD | National Council on Health Planning and Development |
|---|---|
| NICHHD | National Institute of Child Health and Human Development |
| NMRDC | Naval Medical Research and Development Command |
| OSRD | Office of Scientific Research and Development |
| SHPDA | State Health Planning and Development Agency |
| factor viii assay | A test used to measure the activity of a blood clotting factor VIII (Von Willebrand factor). This test is usually used to monitor treatment of haemophilia. Abnormally low factor VIII assays may be seen in the following conditions: congenital deficiency of factor VIII (haemophilia), DIC and secondary fibrinolysis. This test may also be performed in the evaluation of Von Willebrand's disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| factor x assay | A test used to measure the activity of a blood clotting factor X. This test may be used to evaluate excessive bleeding. Abnormally low factor X assays may be seen in the following conditions: congenital deficiency of factor X, fat malabsorption, heparin administration, cirrhosis, vitamin K deficiency and warfarin administration. (27 Sep 1997) |
| factor xii assay | A test used to measure the activity of a blood clotting factor XII. This test may be used to evaluate excessive bleeding. Low factor XII may be seen in cases of congenital deficiency of factor XII, heparin administration and liver disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
| 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) |
| Lowry protein assay | A method for determining protein concentrations using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Synonym: Lowry-Folin assay. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abnormalities, drug-induced | Congenital abnormalities caused by medicinal substances or drugs of abuse given to or taken by the mother, or to which she is inadvertently exposed during the manufacture of such substances. The concept excludes abnormalities resulting from exposure to non-medicinal chemicals in the environment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| activity, drug | A measure of the physiological response a drug produces in the body. A less active drug produces less response (and visa versa). (12 Dec 1998) |
| addictive drug | Any drug that creates a certain degree of euphoria and has a strong potential for addiction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adverse drug reaction reporting systems | Systems developed for collecting reports from government agencies, manufacturers, hospitals, physicians, and other sources on adverse drug reactions. (12 Dec 1998) |