Author: Glossary
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Direct fluorescent antibody
A fluorescent antibody test performed on sputum to detect microorganisms that invade the respiratory tract (e.g., legionella, mycoplasma, or anthrax).
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Cytotoxic antibody
An antibody that lyses cells by binding to a cellular antigen and activating complement or killer cells.
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Cross reacting antibody
An antibody that reacts with antigens other than its specific antigen because they contain binding sites that are structurally similar to its specific antigen.
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Blocking antibody
An antibody that prevents an antigen from binding with a cellular receptor.
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Antititin antibody
An antibody that reacts with striated muscle cells. It is found principally in people with myasthenia gravis who also have thymoma.
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Antithyroperoxidase antibody
A serum marker of autoimmune thyroid destruction (i.e., of Grave ’s disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis).
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Anti-receptor antibody
An antibody that reacts with the antigen receptor on a cell rather than with an antigen itself.
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Antiphospholipid antibody
Antibodies against the phospholipids contained in cell membranes. They are occasionally responsible for catastrophic coagulation disorders, which result in cerebral infarction (stroke), placental infarction (with loss of pregnancy), or blood clotting in other organs.
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Antinuclear antibody
A group of autoantibodies that react against normal components of the cell nucleus. These antibodies are present in a variety of immunologic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, progressive systemic sclerosis, Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, and dermatomyositis, and in some patients taking hydralazine, procainamide, or isoniazid. In addition, ANA is present in some normal people. Tests…
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Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
An autoantibody found in the blood of patients with certain forms of vasculitis (e.g., Wegener’s granulomatosis) especially when it affects small blood vessels.