| 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) |
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| 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) |
| fluorescent antibody technique, indirect | A form of fluorescent antibody technique commonly used to detect serum antibodies and immune complexes in tissues and microorganisms in specimens from patients with infectious diseases. The technique involves formation of an antigen-antibody complex which is labelled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fluorescent antibody techniques | Lab techniques for locating antigens in a prepared tissue sample by using antibodies with fluorescent labels which will bind to the antigens of interest. (09 Oct 1997) |
| fluorescent antibody titre | An indirect method of measuring the concentration of an antibody in serum through the detection of fluorescent light emitted in a chemical reaction. (27 Sep 1997) |
| fluorescent antinuclear antibody test | FANA test, a test for antinuclear antibody components; used, in particular, for the diagnosis of collagen-vascular diseases. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption test | <investigation> A sensitive and specific serologic test for syphilis. It is more specific than the VDRL assay. The patient's serum is diluted to remove non-specific antibodies and then mixed on a glass slide with Nichol's strain of Treponema pallidum. If antibodies are present in the patient's serum they bind to the antigen and the bound antibodies are detected with fluoresceinated antihuman gamma-globulin antibody. Synonym: FTA-ABS test. (12 Sep2002) |
| Forssman antibody | A heterogenetic antibody specific for the Forssman group of heterogenetic antigens. Synonym: heterophil antibody, heterophile antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Forssman antigen-antibody reaction | The combination of Forssman antibody with heterogenetic antigen of the Forssman type, as in the agglutination of sheep erythrocytes (which contain Forssman antigen) by serum from a person with infectious mononucleosis which contains Forssman antibody. Synonym: Forssman reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |