What does prozone mean?

What does prozone mean?

[ prō′zōn′ ] Save This Word! n. The phenomenon in which mixtures of specific antigen and antibody do not agglutinate or precipitate visibly because of an excess of either antibody or antigen.

What is prozone and Postzone?

The prozone reaction refers to the absence of antibody-antigen precipitation in the presence of antibody excess. Since the authors refer to situations of antigen excess, the term prozone cannot correctly be used. Instead, absence of precipitation with excess antigen is described as the postzone phenomenon.

What is Postzone?

Postzone – excess antigen to the available antibody (no agglutination is a result)

What causes prozone phenomenon?

Prozone phenomenon is a very rare and false negative reaction and occurs due to disproportionately increased antibodies in a specimen. Immune system is responsible for excess antibodies. It is frequently seen in HIV, neurosyphilis, early syphilis (mainly secondary syphilis).

What is natural antibody?

Natural antibodies (NAb) are defined as germline encoded immunoglobulins found in individuals without (known) prior antigenic experience. NAb bind exogenous (e.g., bacterial) and self-components and have been found in every vertebrate species tested. NAb likely act as a first-line immune defense against infections.

What is the zone of equivalence?

Definition of equivalence zone : the part of the range of possible proportions of interacting antibody and antigen in which neither or but small traces of both remain uncombined in the medium.

What happens in Postzone?

When there is excess amount of antibody or excess amount of antigen, the insoluble structure cannot be formed and the soluble complex fails to generate the desirable results. When antibody is in excess, we call it the prozone effect. When the antigen is in excess, we call it the postzone effect.

How do I get rid of prozone?

It can be overcome by appropriate dilution and titration of antisera. We have observed that by simply washing the RBCs once more after the antiglobulin phase the prozone phenomenon is elimi- nated, and the strength of agglutination of RBCs (i.e., the sensitivity of the test) is con- siderably increased.

What is prozone in precipitation?

[pro´zōn] in an agglutination or precipitation reaction, the zone of relatively high antibody concentrations within which no reaction occurs. As the antibody concentration is lowered below the prozone, the reaction occurs.

What is the effect of prozone phenomenon?

Prozone phenomenon is a false negative response resulting from high antibody titer which interferes with formation of antigen- antibody lattice, necessary to visualize a positive flocculation test.

What vitamin is good for antibodies?

Vitamin C
Vitamin C stimulates the formation of antibodies, and the production, function and movement of white blood cells. Sources include citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, strawberries and tomatoes. Vitamin D helps regulate antimicrobial proteins that can directly kill pathogens.

What does Prozone mean in medical terms?

Medical Definition of prozone : the portion of the range of concentration of antibody-antigen mixtures in which one of them although present in excess does not produce its characteristic effect (as agglutination or precipitation) Learn More About prozone Dictionary Entries Near prozone

What is a prozone reaction in microbiology?

The prozone reaction refers to the absence of antibody-antigen precipitation in the presence of antibody excess. Since the authors refer to situations of antigen excess, the term prozone cannot correctly be used. Instead, absence of precipitation with excess antigen is described as the postzone phenomenon.

What happens when the antibody concentration is lowered below the prozone?

As the antibody concentration is lowered below the prozone, the reaction occurs. This phenomenon may be due simply to antibody excess or it may be due to blocking antibody or to nonspecific inhibitors in serum. Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition.