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Heterophile antibody

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Heterophile is an alternate term to heterosexual and once competed with it for currency, but only did so successfully in Scandinavia. It is a parallel concept to homophile.

In Scandinavia and Finland, the word heterofil is a gender-neutral term, like "heterosexual" in Canada and the United States.

Medical

Heterophile antibodies are antibodies induced by external antigens (heterophile antigens).

Some cross-react with self-antigens. For example, antibodies against group B streptococcal cell walls can also react with (and thus damage) human heart tissues. These are considered heterophile antibodies.

In clinical diagnosis, the heterophile antibody test specifically refers to a rapid test for antibodies produced against the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis.

Some heterophile antibodies are important due to the interference they cause in immunoassays. These antibodies are human antibodies in patients' blood samples that have the capability to bind to other species’ immunoglobulins. They are commonly referred to as humananti-animal antibodies (HAAA). Human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) belong to this category. They can create both false positive and false negative results.[1]

References

  1. ^ The Ghost in the assay tube: heterophil antibody interferences in immunoassays – an ever-recurring but often forgotten problem. Communiqué: A Mayo Reference Services Publication. 2003; 28(3):1–4.[1]
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