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Antigen and antibody tests
Antigen and antibody tests help to identify certain types of infections and certain other disorders.
1. What is antigen and antibody?
Illustration of cohesion, and formation of antigen-antibody complex:(1) antibody, (2) antigen.
Antibodies are small proteins, circulating in the blood.
They are part of the immune system, and are sometimes called immunoglobulins.
They are produced by B lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.
Antibodies attached to proteins and other chemicals, which they recognize, are derived from the outside into the body.
Extrinsic proteins and chemicals, (extraneous factors or strange agents), which the antibody attaches to, are called antigens.
2. Antibody and infection.
Antibodies protect us against infection.
Bacteria, viruses and other pathogens have antigen proteins on the surface, which help the immune system to recognize that they are derived from the outside.
So, when we get an infection, lymphocytes B, which produces a lot of antibodies, attach to the bacteria that infect.
This often destroys pathogens, or attracts other ingredients,
The immune system, (white blood cells, etc.), comes in and kills germs.
Each type of antigen has different shapes, and therefore, it requires a specific antibody to attach to it.
For example, antibodies are generated to attach to the measles virus, unlike the antibody produced, to attach to the chicken pox virus.
Therefore, the measles-resistant antibody, will not be able to protect you against chickenpox.
Once we have been infected with a specific pathogen, the immune system 'remembers' the particular antigens, on the pathogen, and the antibody needed to capture it.
So if you are exposed to similar pathogens in the future, B lymphocytes,
Will produce quickly, a lot of appropriate antibodies, can prevent and fight the pathogen, before it causes infection.
This is why you usually get one type of infection at a time, from then on, you will not get that type of infection.
This is also a way of getting vaccinated.
That is - you are put into the body a small dose, or a type of "killed" bacteria.
The body makes antibodies against the antigen, on the surface of the bacteria.
So, from then on, if you come in contact with the same pathogens,
Your body will produce it quickly, and lots of suitable antibodies, which can attach to the pathogen and destroy it.
Self-antibody.
Antibodies occur in people with certain autoimmune diseases.
In these diseases, the body produces antibodies against the protein itself, or the structure of your body.
Immune system "wrong", when understanding the protein in your body, is an alien antigen.
The body then produces antibodies that attack the protein.
This can cause injury, or other problems that affect your body.
For example, the common cause of hypothyroidism, is an autoimmune problem.
Antibodies attach to thyroid cells, and stop the production of thyroid hormones.
4. Some antibody tests.
The different antibodies, which can be detected and measured in blood samples, and sometimes in other samples such as saliva, and so on.
Scientists, are discovering many types of antibodies over time.
The results of some antibody tests help to think of a specific disease.
This means that if you have a positive test with a particular antibody, this proves that you have a certain disease.
However, a positive test is not always sure, but most likely, you have a specific disease.
The antibody test, which can be done for a variety of reasons.
5. To detect an infection.
A specific antibody test can help diagnose some types of infections.
However, when you are newly infected with a particular pathogen, it may take several days for the level of antibody to rise, and be detectable.
Therefore, antibody testing, usually not useful, for the diagnosis of new infections quickly.
Other tests, such as microscopy and bacterial implantation, and antigen tests,
It is often faster, and more useful, in situations where rapid diagnosis of a new disease is needed.
However, some antibody tests are very useful, in order to diagnose persistent infection, or to confirm that you have been infected in the past, and are now immune.
For example, testing to check whether pregnant women are immunized with Rubella, is an antibody test.
6. To diagnose autoimmune disorders.
Thyroid (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism), Addison's disease, malignant anemia, primary biliary cirrhosis,
and some other autoimmune diseases have autoantibodies, which can be detected in a test blood sample.
In some autoimmune diseases, the antibody can be detected from a skin sample, (Antibody can be identified, attached to the structure in the skin.)
7. To diagnose some other diseases.
For example:
Myeloma is a disease in which the bone marrow produces too many lymphocytes, and produces antibodies in abnormal numbers.
These abnormalities can be diagnosed through blood test.
Some immunodeficiency diseases, have low levels of antibodies.
Therefore, if you have had recurring and prolonged infections, you can check to see if you lack any antibodies.
Antibody testing is sometimes useful in diagnosing certain cancers and allergies.
8. Antigen test.
Some tests, which can identify the antigen, on the surface of some bacteria, and some other pathogens.
These tests may be useful for detecting a pathogen quickly, without needing to be implanted, or viewed under a microscope.
For example, a test on a stool sample, which can detect the antigen, on the surface of Helicobacter pylori.
This bacterium can infect the stomach and duodenum, causing peptic ulcer disease.
Detect the antigen in the feces confirming that you have this bacteria in your gut.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA), is a chemical, produced by the prostate gland in men.
PSA is usually very low, or undetectable in young men.
But PSA levels increase,
in older men, or if prostate enlargement, prostatitis or cancer.
Most men with PSA increase, will not get cancer, but the next test, will be necessary to find the cause.
Other antigenic tests, which help diagnose some infections, and various pathologies.
Source:Internet.
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