| ANA | acetylneuraminic acid; American Narcolepsy Association; American Neurological Association; American ... |
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| APA | action potential amplitude; aldosterone-producing adenoma; Ambulatory Pediatric Association; America... |
| ATA | alimentary toxic aleukia; American Thyroid Association; aminotriazole; antithymic activity; antithyr... |
| EA | early antigen; educational age; egg albumin; electric affinity; electrical activity; electroacupunct... |
| FAT | family attitudes test; fluorescent antibody technique; fluorescent antibody test |
| immobilizing antibody | Antibody, evoked during syphilitic infections, possessing specific affinity for Treponema pallidum, and which in the presence of complement immobilises the organism. Synonym: immobilizing antibody, treponemal antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| incomplete antibody | An "incomplete" form of antibody that may coat antigen, but which according to the "lattice theory" does not have a second receptor for attachment to another molecule of antigen; in the case of Rh+ erythrocytes, such an anti-Rh antibody may coat the cells but not cause them to agglutinate in saline; however, agglutination does occur when such coated cells are suspended in serum or other protein media, such as albumin, therefore called serum agglutinin. Synonym: incomplete antibody, inhibiting antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| indirect fluorescent antibody | The detection of antibodies to specific antigenic material in the substrate using fluorescent microscopy. Using fluorescent conjugated antibodies which are specific for a particular isotype of antibody, it is possible to distinguish IgG, IgA and IgM isotypes of specific antibodies using indirect fluorescent antibody. This sensitive technique is highly specific in well-trained hands and recent developments in the establishment of internationally recognised standard materials have led to accurate quantitation of antibody concentrations through endpoint titration (the highest serial dilution of specimen at which specific fluorescence remains) and through measuring visual intensity of fluorescence compared to known reference standard material. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inhibiting antibody | An "incomplete" form of antibody that may coat antigen, but which according to the "lattice theory" does not have a second receptor for attachment to another molecule of antigen; in the case of Rh+ erythrocytes, such an anti-Rh antibody may coat the cells but not cause them to agglutinate in saline; however, agglutination does occur when such coated cells are suspended in serum or other protein media, such as albumin, therefore called serum agglutinin. Synonym: incomplete antibody, inhibiting antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thyroglobulin antibody | <investigation> A serologic blood test which measures the antithyroglobulin antibodies in the blood. Thyroglobulin is a protein found in thyroid tissue. It is the source of thyroid hormones in the body. The presence of antibodies to this protein can result in decreased thyroid gland function. A negative assay is considered normal. Conditions where the assay may be positive include: lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, myxoedema, Sjogren's syndrome and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. (07 Mar 2000) |
| thyroid receptor antibody | A test that measures the amount of an antibody (thyroid stimulating antibody) which is directed against a receptor for TSH on the thyroid gland. This antibody acts like TSH and stimulates the thyroid to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. The presence of this antibody generally indicates Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism). (27 Sep 1997) |
| thyroid stimulating antibody | <endocrinology, immunology> Long acting thyroid stimulator is an autoantibody found in many cases of primary thyrotoxicosis which causes hyperplasia of the thyroid by undetermined mechanisms. Human thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin is a different antibody found in all or nearly all cases of primary thyrotoxicosis and may act by binding to the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor site, causing increased synthesis of thyroglobulin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| toxoplasma antibody titre | A test which measures the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma in the blood. This test is used to detect congenital or postnatal toxoplasmosis or to screen pregnant women for the presence of Toxoplasma antibodies. The presence of antibodies before pregnancy probably protects the foetus against congenital toxoplasmosis. Antibodies against Toxoplasma that are developed during pregnancy may indicate a congenital infection (increased risk of birth defects and spontaneous abortion). (27 Sep 1997) |
| treponema-immobilizing antibody | Antibody, evoked during syphilitic infections, possessing specific affinity for Treponema pallidum, and which in the presence of complement immobilises the organism. Synonym: immobilizing antibody, treponemal antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| treponemal antibody | Antibody, evoked during syphilitic infections, possessing specific affinity for Treponema pallidum, and which in the presence of complement immobilises the organism. Synonym: immobilizing antibody, treponemal antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| univalent antibody | An "incomplete" form of antibody that may coat antigen, but which according to the "lattice theory" does not have a second receptor for attachment to another molecule of antigen; in the case of Rh+ erythrocytes, such an anti-Rh antibody may coat the cells but not cause them to agglutinate in saline; however, agglutination does occur when such coated cells are suspended in serum or other protein media, such as albumin, therefore called serum agglutinin. Synonym: incomplete antibody, inhibiting antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fluorescein-conjugated antibody | Refers to an antibody that has joined with a fluorescein molecule. (09 Oct 1997) |
| fluorescent antibody | Immunoglobulin molecule which as been coupled with a fluorescent molecule so that it exhibits fluorescence. (09 Oct 1997) |
| fluorescent antibody technique | Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (fluorescent antibody technique, direct) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labelled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (fluorescent antibody technique, indirect). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fluorescent antibody technique, direct | A form of fluorescent antibody technique utilizing a fluorochrome conjugated to an antibody, which is added directly to a tissue or cell suspension for the detection of a specific antigen. (12 Dec 1998) |