Antikörpertests

Antikörpertests, also known as antibody tests, are diagnostic tools used to detect the presence of antibodies in a person's blood or other bodily fluids. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to the presence of foreign substances, such as viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens. The detection of specific antibodies can indicate that a person has been exposed to a particular infectious agent, or has developed immunity to it, or may have an autoimmune condition.

These tests work by identifying antibodies that are specific to a particular antigen. An antigen is a molecule, typically found on the surface of a pathogen, that triggers an immune response. When an antibody binds to its corresponding antigen, it can be detected by various laboratory methods. Common techniques include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), Western blots, and lateral flow assays, often referred to as rapid tests.

Antikörpertests have a wide range of applications in medicine. They are crucial for diagnosing infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, and Lyme disease, by confirming past or current infection. They are also used to assess vaccine effectiveness, as a positive antibody test after vaccination can confirm that the vaccine has stimulated an immune response. Furthermore, antibody testing plays a role in diagnosing and monitoring autoimmune diseases, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, such as in rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. The interpretation of antibody test results requires careful consideration of the clinical context, as a positive result does not always equate to active infection or current immunity.