AUSTRALIA ANTIGEN Meaning and
Definition
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Australia antigen, also known as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), is a foreign protein found on the surface of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This antigen is a crucial marker in diagnosing and monitoring individuals with hepatitis B infection, which is a highly contagious liver disease caused by the HBV.
The term "Australia antigen" originated from the discovery of this unique antigen in the serum of an Australian Aboriginal hepatitis B patient back in the early 1960s. Since then, it has been universally referred to as the Australia antigen. It is an important diagnostic tool as its presence in the blood indicates an active HBV infection, even in asymptomatic carriers.
HBsAg can be detected through various laboratory tests, including enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. A positive result for Australia antigen implies that the person is infected with HBV and is at risk of transmitting the virus to others, even if they do not exhibit any symptoms. Therefore, it serves as a key indicator in screening blood donors, as well as in identifying healthcare workers who may have been exposed to the virus.
Australia antigen testing is an integral component of routine blood testing and is crucial for assessing the prevalence of hepatitis B in populations. It also aids in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HBV infection by facilitating appropriate medical interventions, such as vaccination and antiviral therapy, as well as implementing public health measures to control the spread of the virus.
Common Misspellings for AUSTRALIA ANTIGEN
- zustralia antigen
- sustralia antigen
- wustralia antigen
- qustralia antigen
- aystralia antigen
- ahstralia antigen
- ajstralia antigen
- aistralia antigen
- a8stralia antigen
- a7stralia antigen
- auatralia antigen
- auztralia antigen
- auxtralia antigen
- audtralia antigen
- auetralia antigen
- auwtralia antigen
- ausrralia antigen
- ausfralia antigen
- ausgralia antigen
- ausyralia antigen
Etymology of AUSTRALIA ANTIGEN
The term "Australia antigen" refers to a protein that was first discovered in 1967 in the blood of an Australian aborigine. It was initially named as "Australia antigen" because it was isolated from the serum of an Australian patient with hepatitis. Later on, it was found to be associated with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is a major cause of liver disease. Although the term "Australia antigen" is still occasionally used, it is commonly referred to as the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in medical literature.
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