SOURCES:

Found naturally in the environment, air, soil, water.

Found in lead storage batteries, solder, sheet and pipe metal, pewter, bearings and castings, paints, ceramics, fireworks, plastic enamels, metal and glass.

Sometimes used medically to treat parasites.

Possible sources of antimony: 
- Food and smoking are the usual sources of antimony. Thus cigarette smoke can externally contaminate hair, as well as contribute to uptake via inhalation. 
- Gunpowder (ammunition) often contains antimony. Firearm enthusiasts often have elevated levels of antimony in hair. 

Other possible sources are: 
- textile industry, 
- metal alloys, 
- and some anti-helminthic and anti-protozoal drugs. 
- Antimony is also used in the manufacture of paints, glass, ceramics, solder, batteries, bearing metals and semiconductors.

Possible sources of antimony: 
- Food and smoking are the usual sources of antimony. Thus cigarette smoke can externally contaminate hair, as well as contribute to uptake via inhalation. 
- Gunpowder (ammunition) often contains antimony. Firearm enthusiasts often have elevated levels of antimony in hair. 

Other possible sources are: 
- textile industry, 
- metal alloys, 
- and some anti-helminthic and anti-protozoal drugs. 
- Antimony is also used in the manufacture of paints, glass, ceramics, solder, batteries, bearing metals and semiconductors.

Possible sources of antimony: 
- Food and smoking are the usual sources of antimony. Thus cigarette smoke can externally contaminate hair, as well as contribute to uptake via inhalation. 
- Gunpowder (ammunition) often contains antimony. Firearm enthusiasts often have elevated levels of antimony in hair. 

Other possible sources are: 
- textile industry, 
- metal alloys, 
- and some anti-helminthic and anti-protozoal drugs. 
- Antimony is also used in the manufacture of paints, glass, ceramics, solder, batteries, bearing metals and semiconductors.

Possible sources of antimony: 
- Food and smoking are the usual sources of antimony. Thus cigarette smoke can externally contaminate hair, as well as contribute to uptake via inhalation. 
- Gunpowder (ammunition) often contains antimony. Firearm enthusiasts often have elevated levels of antimony in hair. 

Other possible sources are: 
- textile industry, 
- metal alloys, 
- and some anti-helminthic and anti-protozoal drugs. 
- Antimony is also used in the manufacture of paints, glass, ceramics, solder, batteries, bearing metals and semiconductors.

SOURCES:

Found naturally in the environment, air, soil, water.

Found in lead storage batteries, solder, sheet and pipe metal, pewter, bearings and castings, paints, ceramics, fireworks, plastic enamels, metal and glass.

Sometimes used medically to treat parasites.

Fecal antimony (Sb) provides an indication of recent oral exposure to the element, and to a much lesser extent Sb that has been excreted from the body in bile. Sb is a nonessential element that is chemically similar to but less toxic than inorganic arsenic. Like arsenic, Sb is conjugated with glutathione and excreted in urine and feces.

SOURCES:

Found naturally in the environment, air, soil, water.

Found in lead storage batteries, solder, sheet and pipe metal, pewter, bearings and castings, paints, ceramics, fireworks, plastic enamels, metal and glass.

Sometimes used medically to treat parasites.

For diagnosis and monitoring inflammatory activity in primary systemic small vessel vasculitides. The anti-MPO-ANCA EIA is useful for confirming positive ANCA results by IFA, particularly with the pANCA pattern.

The Antinuclear Antibody (ANA), HEp-2 Substrate, S test is a commonly used blood test to help diagnose autoimmune conditions. This test detects antinuclear antibodies—proteins made by your immune system that mistakenly attack healthy cells. These antibodies often target the nucleus of your cells, which is why they're called "antinuclear."

Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) are a group of autoantibodies that target substances found in the nucleus of a cell. The ANA screen is a preliminary test used to detect the presence of these antibodies in the blood, which may indicate the presence of an autoimmune disorder. When an ANA screen yields a positive or indeterminate result, a Reflex ANA IFA (Indirect Fluorescent Antibody) test may be performed for a more detailed analysis. This test can identify specific patterns of fluorescence that correlate with various types of autoimmune diseases.

Additionally, the detection of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies, through a reflex test, is especially significant as these are highly specific for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic autoimmune disease. The presence of dsDNA antibodies can be indicative of the disease activity and severity.

Antinuclear antibodies or ANAs are autoantibodies that react to substances within the nucleus of the cell. Antinuclear antibodies can react to almost anything with the nucleus including DNA, centromeres, histones, ribosomes, and other nuclear proteins.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases are conditions in which the immune system attacks the joints and certain systems. They are often difficult to diagnose, as their symptoms can be vague, vary from patient to patient, and often overlap. Laboratory testing can provide useful information, but no single test provides a definitive diagnosis for any one rheumatic disease. Diagnosis is most often based on a compilation of symptoms and signs, including clinical information and laboratory test results.

Testing for antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) using an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is a good first approach for laboratory evaluation of patients suspected of having certain autoimmune rheumatic diseases. ANAs, a group of autoantibodies directed against diverse nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens, are associated with several autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

These include:

- systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),

- systemic sclerosis (SSc),

- and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).

An antiparietal cell antibody test is a blood test that looks for antibodies against the parietal cells of the stomach. The parietal cells make and release a substance that the body needs to absorb vitamin B12.

This test is used as an aid in the diagnosis of certain autoimmune thrombotic disorders, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (aPS). Antibodies to PS/PT correlate with the presence of lupus anticoagulants (LA) and this test may be useful in cases with difficult LA test interpretation. This assay may also assist in the determination of risk for thrombosis as well as obstetric complications in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies.

This test is used as an aid in the diagnosis of certain autoimmune thrombotic disorders, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (aPS). Antibodies to PS/PT correlate with the presence of lupus anticoagulants (LA) and this test may be useful in cases with difficult LA test interpretation. This assay may also assist in the determination of risk for thrombosis as well as obstetric complications in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies.