| OGS | oxygenic steroid |
|---|---|
| Pr | praseodymium; prednisolone; presbyopia; primary; prism; production rate [of steroid hormones]; prola... |
| SBP | schizobipolar; serotonin-binding protein; spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; steroid-binding plasma ... |
| SPAI | steroid protein activity index |
| SR | sarcoplasmic reticulum; saturation recovery; scanning radiometer; screen; secretion rate; sedimentat... |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Abbe test plate | <equipment> A long, wedge-shaped coverslip about 0.20 mm thick at one end and 0.10 to 0.12 mm at the other end coated chemically with a silver film on which are ruled horizontal lines. at each variation in thickness of 0.01 mm there are vertical lines. By means of oblique illumination and by focusing on different portions of the plate, it is possible to determine the optimum coverslip thickness for any objective and also, for microscopes with drawtubes, the tube length for best objective performance. The approximate freedom from spherical and chromatic aberrations can also be estimated. Small isolated bits of silver near the edges of the lines form good objects for the star test (05 Aug 1998) |
| acetone test | A test for ketonuria; the suspected urine is shaken up with a few drops of sodium nitroprusside, and strong ammonia water is then gently poured over the mixture; if acetone is present, a magenta ring forms at the line of contact; tablets containing sodium nitroprusside and alkali are now more commonly used. (05 Mar 2000) |
| achievement test | A standardised test used to measure acquired learning, e.g., competence in a specific subject area such as reading or arithmetic, in contrast to an intelligence test which is a useful index of potential ability or learning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acidified serum test | Lysis of the patient's red cells in acidified fresh serum, specific for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Synonym: Ham's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid loading test | <nephrology> This is a test used in the diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis. The patient takes ammonium chloride capsules for 3 days to acidify the blood (lower blood pH). A sample of the urine and the blood is then collected and the results are interpreted. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acid perfusion test | <gastroenterology, investigation> A test used to diagnosis gastrooesophageal reflux disease. This investigation requires that the patient swallow 3 tiny tubes into the stomach. A mixture of hydrochloric acid (like stomach acid) and saline are alternatively injected into the tubes. The patient then reports any symptoms they may have. Some patients may vomit. (13 Nov 1997) |
| acid phosphatase test for semen | A screening test for semen by determining acid phosphatase content; because seminal fluid contains high concentrations of acid phosphatase, while other body fluids and extraneous foreign materials have very low concentrations, high values of acid phosphatase on vaginal aspirate or lavage, or on wash fluid from stains, render positive identification of semen, even if the male is aspermic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid reflux test | A test to detect gastroesophageal reflux by monitoring oesophageal pH by an electrode in the distal oesophagus either basally or after acid is instilled into the stomach. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ACTH stimulation test | A test for adrenal cortical function; ACTH administered by continuous intravenous infusion, or intramuscularly, evokes an increase in plasma cortisol in normal persons; in adrenal cortical insufficiency, the expected increase in plasma cortisol is limited or nonexistent. (05 Mar 2000) |