what does an antibody indicates
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what does an antibody indicates
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Antibody identification involve analysing a patient’s sample (usually blood) for the presence or absence of a particular antibody (qualitative) or for the amount of antibody that is present (quantitative). Antibodies are part of the body's immune system. They are immunoglobulin proteins that help protect people against microscopic invaders such as viruses, bacteria, chemicals, or toxins.
Each antibody that is produced is unique. It is created to recognise a specific structure on an invading foreign cell or particle. The specific structure that is recognised is called an antigen. Antibodies attach to the antigens, creating antigen-antibody complexes (immune complexes) that serve as signals for the rest of the immune system to destroy the cell or particle. There are five different classes of immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgE, IgA, and IgD). The three most frequently measured are IgM, IgG, and IgE. IgM and IgG antibodies work together to produce short-term and long-term protection against infection. IgE antibodies are primarily associated with allergies in the western world, though are also involved in parasite immunology and elimination.
The first time someone is exposed to a foreign substance, like a virus or bacterium, it may take the immune system up to two weeks to make an antibody blueprint and to produce enough of a specific antibody to fight the infection. This initial response consists primarily of IgM antibodies. Several weeks later, usually after the immediate threat has passed and the infection has resolved, the body creates IgG antibodies. It remembers the blueprint for fighting this microorganism and maintains a small supply of antibodies (a mixture of both IgM and IgG). The next time the body is exposed to the same foreign substance, it will respond much more strongly and quickly, to provide primarily IgG antibody protection.