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.

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.

For diagnosis and monitoring inflammatory activity in primary systemic small vessel vasculitides. Antineutrophil antibodies are best demonstrated in these diseases by using a combination of IFA and EIAs that detect ANCA specific for PR3-ANCA or MPO-ANCA. Presence of anti-MPO antibodies are highly specific for idiopathic and vasculitis associated crescentic glomerulonephritis, classic polyarteritis nodosa, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and polyangiitis overlap syndrome without renal involvement.

Scl-70 antibody is seen in 20% of people with scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis), and in some people with CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia).

The ASO test is primarily used to help determine whether a recent strep infection with group A Streptococcus:

Antithrombin Activity (ATIII), also known as AT III or AT 3, is a key biomarker that measures how effectively antithrombin, a natural anticoagulant protein, functions in the blood. Antithrombin is crucial for regulating clot formation by inhibiting thrombin and clotting factors like factor Xa, helping maintain a balance between clotting and bleeding. Normal ATIII activity ranges from 80% to 120%.

A decrease in ATIII activity may indicate inherited or acquired deficiencies and is often linked to conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), or vitamin K deficiency. While elevated ATIII activity is less common, it may occur during inflammation, certain stages of pregnancy, or after antithrombin supplementation or anticoagulant therapy.