(lab) glossary Flashcards
a laboratory technique that involves the removal of antibodies by the use of a specific antigen (i.e., red blood cell surface antigen)
absorption
the proximity or closeness of a value to the true value
accuracy
incurred due to external factors and is not inherited
acquired
normal serum constituents that increase or decrease in the presence of an infection, injury, or trauma to tissues; associated with inflammatory reactions
acute phase proteins
a substance added to vaccines to potentiate or enhance the immune response of the recipient; examples include alum and Freund’s adjuvant
adjuvant
the key enzyme in the glycolytic cycle of Plasmodium parasite
aldolase
a process of attachment of one substance to the surface of another; attachment of an antibody to a specific antigen receptor on a cell surface
adsorption
binding strength between an antigenic determinant (epitope) and its complementary site (paratope) in the Fab region of the antibody
affinity
absence of all immunoglobulins in serum
agammaglobulinemia
aggregation or clumping of cellular or particulate antigens to their corresponding antisera containing antibodies
agglutination
an antibody capable of causing agglutination with multivalent surface antigens; usually belongs to igM class
agglutinin
a particulate or cellular antigen involved in agglutination or aggregation
agglutinogen
an enzyme that liberates inorganic phosphates from phosphate esters; used as an indicator label in immunoassays
alkaline phosphatase
an alternative form(s) of a gene at a particular locus or specific position on a chromosome
allele
an antigen that triggers an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction
allergen
an adjuvant commonly added to human vaccines
alum
an anti-sheep red blood cell antibody that causes hemolysis of sheep red blood cells in the presence of complement
amboceptor
a rapid rise in the immunoglobulin concentration following subsequent exposure to an antigen; also known as a secondary immune response or booster response
anamnestic response
an immunoglobulin (Ig) formed in response to an antigen
antibody
highest dilution factor of a sample that still results in a visible reaction (i.e., agglutination)
antibody titer
any substance that, when introduced into the body, stimulates antibody production
antigen
union of an antibody with its homologous antigen
antigen-antibody complex
accessory cells present in tissues that process antigens and display fragments on the cell surface in association with a Class Il major histocompatibility complex molecules; examples include dendritic cells and macrophages
antigen presenting cells
number of antigenic determinants on an antigen
Antigen valency
a specific region of an antigen that is recognized by the B- or T-cell receptors
Antigenic determinant
ability of a substance to react with immune products
Antigenicity
an autoimmune antibody directed against a nuclear component; usually seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
an antibody produced against streptolysin 0, a hemolysin produced by group A Streptococcus
Antistreptolysin 0 (ASO)
suppressor and cytototoxic T-cells capable of recognizing and killing B-cells infected by viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus; also known as reactive lymphocytes
Atypical lymphocytes
former name of the hepatitis B surface antigen
Australia antigen
the condition in which an immune response is initiated by “self” antigens
Autoimmunity
the sum total binding strength between an antigen and an antibody
Avidity
a lymphocyte that originated from the bone marrow; cells of the adaptive immune response that possess surface antibodies that are specific to an epitope
B-cell
a protein not normally present in human blood but is present in a wide variety of inflammatory reactions; characterized by their ability to react With the C-polysaccharide component of pneumococci
C-reactive protein
a substance composed of fresh beef heart extract combined with lecithin and cholesterol
Cardiolipin
immunity that is dependent on T-cells and phagocytic cells
Cell-mediated immunity
the movement of cells such as neutrophils toward a stimulus
Chemotaxis
cell surface markers that are employed for immunophenotyping cells particularly lymphocytes; also known as cluster of differentiation
Cluster of designation (CD)
agglutinins that belong to the IgM class and are active at 4°C but not at 37°C
Cold agglutinins
a humoral mechanism of non-specific immune responses of at least 14 components that proceed in a cascading sequence of activation, resulting in cell lysis; formerly known as alexin; there are three complement pathways, namely, classical, alternative, and mannose-binding lectin
Complement
the process of binding of complement in a reaction with an antigen and antibody
Complement fixation
a substance that is similar to the patient sample that/s used to monitor the precision of analytical tests
Control
a protein molecule secreted by leukocytes that regulate immune response
Cytokine
a hemagglutination test that defines the characteristics of the heterophile antibody through guinea pig and beef cell antigens
Davidsohn differential test
the most common procedure for the separation of lymphocytes
Density gradient centrifugation
a fluid containing antibodies deliberately removed from red blood cells
eluate
a ligand assay that employs an enzyme label, and the binding reagent is an antibody
Enzyme immunoassay
a specific region of antigen that is recognized by a B-cell or T-cell
Epitope
a point of dilution in a serologic reaction in which there is maximal binding of the antigen and antibody as seen in precipitation reactions
Equivalence point
agglutinating antibodies that are produced in response to microorganisms that induce fever
Febrile agglutinins
a type of precipitation that occurs over a narrow range of antigen concentration; involves the aggregation of colloidal particles described as a fleecy mass or clump
Flocculation
a heterophile antibody that is found in serum samples of most normal individuals
Forssman antibody
a substance that absorbs Forsmann and serum sickness antibodies
Guinea pig kidney antigen
flagellar antigens
H-antigens
flagellar antigens
H-antigens
a small non-immunogenic molecule that can function as an epitope if bound to a carrier molecule
Hapten
agglutination of red blood cells
Hemagglutination
a substance that causes agglutination of erythrocytes
Hemagglutinin
rupturing (lysis) of red blood cells and the subsequent release of their contents into the surrounding fluid
Hemolysis
ruptured erythrocytes
Hemolyzed
antibodies that are produced in an individual in response to an antigen that will also react with another unrelated antigen
Heterophile antibodies
A retrovirus that causes disease affecting the immune system; etiologic agent of acquired immunodeficiency disease
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
adaptive immunity that involves the production of antibodies
Humoral immunity
a reaction that demonstrates a specific antibody response to an antigen
Immune response
a condition that is resistant to an infection
Immunity
a laboratory method employed for the qualitative or quantitative detection of antibodies
Immunodiffusion
an antigen capable of stimulating an immune response
Immunogen
outside the body; observable in a test tube
In vitro
within a living organism
In vivo
the process in which complement activity in a serum is nullified by heating
Inactivation
the total reaction of a body against an injury or invasion
Inflammation
capsular antigen
K antigen
a structure that forms when a multivalent antigen binds to an antibody in optimal or maximal proportions
Lattice
a molecule that binds or forms a complex with a biologic molecule such as receptors, proteins, or antibodies
Ligand
an antibody that causes the dissolution of cells
Lysin
a collection of structural genes that code for proteins that can serve as antigen-presenting molecules in cell-mediated immunity as well as proteins needed in tissue transplantation
Major histocompatibility complex
refers to the presence of multiple copies of the same epitope within the same antigen
Multivalent
an antigen-antibody reaction in which the reactive effect of a particular antigen is nullified by a specific antibody
Neutralization
a qualitative test to determine defects in the NADPH oxidase; employed in the detection of chronic granulomatous disease
Nitroblue tetrazolium test
nonspecific antibodies detected in patients with syphilis; examples include reagin and Wasserman antibodies
Non-treponemal antibodies
somatic antigen
O-antigen
a molecule that attaches itself to microorganisms or antigens to enhance phagocytosis
Opsonin
the process wherein the antibody coats an antigen to allow a more effective phagocytosis
Opsonization
serum samples obtained from patients during the acute and convalescent phase; used to determine if there is a significant antibody titer increase
Paired sera
related to all or every or a large group; a panspecific antibody has a capability of recognizing different isoforms of protein
Panspecific
a process wherein phagocytes, such as neutrophils and macrophages, engulf or “eat” microbes or particulate matter
Phagocytosis
the fluid matrix of unclotted blood
Plasma
a weak or negative antigen antibody-reaction that occurs when there is an antigen excess in the presence of a relatively low amount of antibody
Postzone reaction
an antigen-antibody reaction between a soluble antigen and an antibody that produces an insoluble precipitate
Precipitation
an antibody that interacts with a soluble antigen; IgG class are usually involved
Precipitin
tests that involve a specific recognition and interaction of an antigen to its corresponding antibody; examples include enzyme immunoassays and radioimmmunoassays; these tests are more sensitive than secondary tests
Primary tests
a weak or negative antigen-antibody reaction that occurs when serum containing antibodies is in excess in the presence of a relatively low amount of antigen
Prozone reaction
an immunologic test that employs radioisotopes as labels for antigens or antibodies, complements, or other reactants
Radioimmunoassay
an antibody-like substance produced in response to certain tissue invasion and destruction such as in syphilis
Reagin
an IgM antibody produced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis which binds to the Fc portion of IgG
Rheumatoid factor
a process in which cells, such as red blood cells, are coated with incomplete or blocking antibodies such as gG; does not result in agglutination
Sensitization
the detection of a specific antibody in the serum of an individual whose antibody was previously undetectable
Seroconversion
a progressively higher dissolution of a substance arranged in a definite sequence or series
Serial dilution
a branch of biology that deals with the study of antigens and antibodies and their biologic relationships
Serology
the fluid matrix of clotted blood
Serum
a type of hypersensitivity reaction that involves the giving of nonhuman gamma globulins for immunization; patients experience fever, rashes, lymphadenopathy, and joint inflammation
Serum sickness
a special affinity between an antigen and its corresponding antibody; a property of B- and T-cell receptors to recognize only one epitope
Specificity
a thymus-derived lymphocyte involved in cell-mediated immunity
T-cell
a biomarker found in elevated levels of body fluids in patients with neoplasms; tumor markers are employed for monitoring of the progression of neoplasms
Tumor markers
an antibody that is active at 37°C but not at 4°C; ex: IgG
Warm agglutinins
a serologic test employing cross-reacting Proteus somatic antigens employed for the diagnosis of rickettsial diseases
Weil-Felix test
a febrile agglutination serologic test used to detect febrile agglutinins
Widal agglutination test
