URGENT information regarding blood test.
Appologies if this is in the wrong forum, just trying to get some quick answers if I can.
Hi all
To cut a really long story short my mum has to go for regular blood tests and such as a hypodermic needle (dirty[:@] pierced the skin on her leg.
I had a phone call from her last night and she is very worried & so am I as she never really asks me for advice. She had a phone call from her doctors who want to see her because her recent blood test shows she doesn't have enough antibodies in her blood[&:]
Can someone please explain what this means? Is it serious?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in advance.
Love, Light & Blessing's
Crystallove X
[sm=FIFangel.gif]
Answers:
Antibodies
An ANTIBODY is defined as "an immunoglobulin capable of specific combination with the antigen that caused its production in a susceptible animal." They are produced in response to the invasion of foreign molecules in the body. Antibodies exist as one or more copies of a Y-shaped unit, composed of four polypeptide chains. Each Y contains two identical copies of a "heavy" chain, and two identical copies of a "light chain", named as such by their relative molecular weights. Antibodies can be divided into five classes: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE, based on the number of Y units and the type of heavy chain. The light chains of any antibody can be classified as either a kappa (k ) or lambda (l ) type (a description of molecular characteristics of the polypeptide); however, the heavy chain determines the subclass of each antibody. Heavy chains of IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE, are known as gamma, mu, alpha, delta, and epsilon, respectively.
The most commonly used antibody is IgG, which can be cleaved into three parts , two F(ab) regions and one Fc, by the proteolytic enzyme papain, or into two parts, one F(ab’)2 and one Fc by the proteolytic enzyme pepsin. The F(ab) regions comprise the "arms" of the antibody, which are critical for antigen binding. The Fc region comprises the "tail" of the antibody and plays a role in immune response, as well as serving as a useful "handle" for manipulating the antibody during some immunochemical procedures. The number of F(ab) regions on the antibody, corresponds with its subclass, and determines the "valency" of the antibody (loosely stated, the number of "arms" with which the antibody may bind its antigen).
Taken from http://www.chemicon.com/resource/ANT...asp#ANTIBODIES
Hope this helps Crystallove! [sm=hug.gif]
Answers:
Hi Crystal love,
It's always worring to be confronted by an unknown medical term.
In short, "an antibody is a protein produced in the slpeen or lymph nodes in response to the presence of antigens. An antigen is a protein different from the bodies own proteins. An antibody combines with the antigen and inactivates it. By combining with the proteins of bacteria, antibodies are an important defence against infection.
Antibodies are only effective against the particular antigen that caused it to be formed, ie: antibodies that were formed against measles will be ineffective against chicken pox. It takes a week or more to form antibodies against a new antigen, but the knack persists, and if the same antigen reappears it can be dealt with at once." Hope this helps.
Lots of love to both you and mum. If I knew how to use all these lovely icons, I'd insert a big hug here.
Anconablue.x
Answers:
Hi Crystallove
Was she told which antibodies were low?
Answers:
[sm=hug.gif]Thanks Andi
[sm=hug.gif]Thanks Anconablue
Hi Felipe, my mum wasn't told which antibodies were low[&:] would that make a difference? Thanks
My mum isn't feeling as worried now and her appointment at the doctors isn't for another week & half, in her words "if it was serious, they'd have seen me at the doctors earlier, surely?"
I'll let you know how she get's on.
Love, Light & Blessing's
Crystallove X
[sm=FIFangel.gif]
Hi all
To cut a really long story short my mum has to go for regular blood tests and such as a hypodermic needle (dirty[:@] pierced the skin on her leg.
I had a phone call from her last night and she is very worried & so am I as she never really asks me for advice. She had a phone call from her doctors who want to see her because her recent blood test shows she doesn't have enough antibodies in her blood[&:]
Can someone please explain what this means? Is it serious?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in advance.
Love, Light & Blessing's
Crystallove X
[sm=FIFangel.gif]
Answers:
Antibodies
An ANTIBODY is defined as "an immunoglobulin capable of specific combination with the antigen that caused its production in a susceptible animal." They are produced in response to the invasion of foreign molecules in the body. Antibodies exist as one or more copies of a Y-shaped unit, composed of four polypeptide chains. Each Y contains two identical copies of a "heavy" chain, and two identical copies of a "light chain", named as such by their relative molecular weights. Antibodies can be divided into five classes: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE, based on the number of Y units and the type of heavy chain. The light chains of any antibody can be classified as either a kappa (k ) or lambda (l ) type (a description of molecular characteristics of the polypeptide); however, the heavy chain determines the subclass of each antibody. Heavy chains of IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE, are known as gamma, mu, alpha, delta, and epsilon, respectively.
The most commonly used antibody is IgG, which can be cleaved into three parts , two F(ab) regions and one Fc, by the proteolytic enzyme papain, or into two parts, one F(ab’)2 and one Fc by the proteolytic enzyme pepsin. The F(ab) regions comprise the "arms" of the antibody, which are critical for antigen binding. The Fc region comprises the "tail" of the antibody and plays a role in immune response, as well as serving as a useful "handle" for manipulating the antibody during some immunochemical procedures. The number of F(ab) regions on the antibody, corresponds with its subclass, and determines the "valency" of the antibody (loosely stated, the number of "arms" with which the antibody may bind its antigen).
Taken from http://www.chemicon.com/resource/ANT...asp#ANTIBODIES
Hope this helps Crystallove! [sm=hug.gif]
Answers:
Hi Crystal love,
It's always worring to be confronted by an unknown medical term.
In short, "an antibody is a protein produced in the slpeen or lymph nodes in response to the presence of antigens. An antigen is a protein different from the bodies own proteins. An antibody combines with the antigen and inactivates it. By combining with the proteins of bacteria, antibodies are an important defence against infection.
Antibodies are only effective against the particular antigen that caused it to be formed, ie: antibodies that were formed against measles will be ineffective against chicken pox. It takes a week or more to form antibodies against a new antigen, but the knack persists, and if the same antigen reappears it can be dealt with at once." Hope this helps.
Lots of love to both you and mum. If I knew how to use all these lovely icons, I'd insert a big hug here.
Anconablue.x
Answers:
Hi Crystallove
Was she told which antibodies were low?
Answers:
[sm=hug.gif]Thanks Andi
[sm=hug.gif]Thanks Anconablue
Hi Felipe, my mum wasn't told which antibodies were low[&:] would that make a difference? Thanks
My mum isn't feeling as worried now and her appointment at the doctors isn't for another week & half, in her words "if it was serious, they'd have seen me at the doctors earlier, surely?"
I'll let you know how she get's on.
Love, Light & Blessing's
Crystallove X
[sm=FIFangel.gif]