What does AABS mean in BIOLOGY

Autoantibodies are antibodies created by the body's own immune system which attack healthy cells and organs. These antibodies mistakenly identify a part of the body as being foreign, leading to an autoimmune reaction. This causes various symptoms such as inflammation, tissue damage and organ dysfunction.

The most common types of autoantibodies are anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO).

A positive antinuclear antibody test result suggests that the body’s immune system has produced autoantibodies that are attacking healthy cells or organs in the body. It does not necessarily mean you have an autoimmune disorder; some people who have no signs or symptoms may have a positive ANA test result. Further testing will be necessary to accurately diagnose autoimmune disorders.

An ANA test can be done with either a blood draw or with urine sample depending on the laboratory performing the test. The test measures levels of antibody titers — meaning it looks for specific patterns of autoantibody proteins — in order to confirm diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder.

There are no risks associated with having an ANA Test as it is a simple blood draw or urine sample; however, other tests may be recommended if a positive result is found, so additional risks may apply depending on what further tests your doctor orders.

False positives and negatives can occur when taking an ANA Test, however these occurrences are very rare as long as the laboratory correctly performs all tests according to standard protocol instructions. False positives could indicate another immunological disorder while false negatives could miss out on diagnosing actual autoimmune diseases if they exist.

It is generally recommended that individuals should get tested for Autoantibodies annually for early detection and proper diagnosis of any autoimmune disease present in their bodies. However, this recommendation may vary depending on your individual health condition and risk factors.

There is no surefire way to prevent yourself from developing Autoimmune Diseases since it results from complex interactions between genetic makeup and environmental triggers; however, you can modify some environmental factors such as avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly etc., which can reduce your chances of acquiring such diseases.

Age is one factor that has been linked to increased risk for some autoimmune diseases; typically these diseases first develop during adulthood but can also start later in life due to aging-related changes within our immune systems.