HETEROPHILE ANTIBODY Meaning and
Definition
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A heterophile antibody is a type of antibody which is capable of reacting with multiple antigens that are structurally dissimilar. It is typically used in the context of diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, particularly in the field of serology.
When an individual is infected with certain viral or bacterial pathogens, their immune system produces antibodies as a defensive response. These antibodies are designed to recognize and bind to specific antigens present on the surface of the invading pathogens, effectively marking them for destruction by other immune cells. However, in some cases, these antibodies can also cross-react with other unrelated antigens, which are known as heterophile antigens.
Heterophile antibodies are produced by B-lymphocytes and are mostly of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) class. One well-known example of a heterophile antibody is the antibody produced during infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), known as the heterophile antibody Monospot test. This test is frequently used to diagnose infectious mononucleosis, a viral illness caused by EBV. In this test, the patient's serum is mixed with horse red blood cells, and if heterophile antibodies are present, they will cause agglutination or clumping of the red blood cells due to cross-reactivity.
Heterophile antibodies can sometimes lead to false-positive or false-negative results in diagnostic tests, depending on their concentration and specificity. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to carefully interpret the test results in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory findings to ensure accurate diagnoses.
Common Misspellings for HETEROPHILE ANTIBODY
- geterophile antibody
- beterophile antibody
- neterophile antibody
- jeterophile antibody
- ueterophile antibody
- yeterophile antibody
- hwterophile antibody
- hsterophile antibody
- hdterophile antibody
- hrterophile antibody
- h4terophile antibody
- h3terophile antibody
- hererophile antibody
- heferophile antibody
- hegerophile antibody
- heyerophile antibody
- he6erophile antibody
- he5erophile antibody
- hetwrophile antibody
Etymology of HETEROPHILE ANTIBODY
The word "heterophile antibody" is derived from Greek and Latin roots.
The term "hetero-" comes from the Greek word "heteros", meaning "different" or "other". In this context, it refers to antibodies that recognize and bind to antigens that are different from what they were initially produced to target.
The word "phile" is derived from the Greek word "philos", meaning "friend" or "lover". It is combined with the suffix "-e", meaning "one that has a tendency for" or "that which possesses". Therefore, "heterophile" in this context signifies antibodies that have a tendency to bind with various antigens.
Lastly, the term "antibody" comes from the combination of the Latin word "anti", meaning "against", and "body", referring to the immune system components that act against foreign substances or pathogens.
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