Potentiator
Encyclopedia
In clinical terms, a potentiator is a reagent
that enhances sensitization of an antigen
. Potentiators are used in the clinical laboratory for performing blood bank
ing procedures that require enhancement of agglutination
in order to detect the presence of antibodies or antigens in a patient's blood sample. Examples of potentiators include albumin
, LISS (low ionic-strength saline) and PEG (polyethylene glycol
) . Potentiators are also known as enhancement reagents.
Albumin acts as a potentiator by reducing the zeta potential
around the suspended red blood cells, thus dispersing the repulsive negative charges and enhancing agglutination. Low ionic strength saline is a potentiator that acts by not only reducing the zeta potential
, but also by increasing the amount of antibody taken up by the red blood cell during sensitization. LISS is a solution of glycine
and albumin. Polyethylene glycol in a LISS solution removes water from the system and thus concentrates the antibodies present. PEG can cause non-specific aggregation of cells, thus eliminating the necessity for centrifugation after 37°C incubation. PEG is not appropriate for use in samples from patients with increased plasma protein, such as patients with multiple myeloma
. False-positive results may occur more frequently with the use of polyethylene glycol due to its strong agglutination capabilities.
used to get more pain relief and anxiolysis out of an equal dose of an opioid medication. The potentiation can take place at any part of the liberation, absorption, distribution, metabolism & elimination of the drug.
Reagent
A reagent is a "substance or compound that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction, or added to see if a reaction occurs." Although the terms reactant and reagent are often used interchangeably, a reactant is less specifically a "substance that is consumed in the course of...
that enhances sensitization of an antigen
Antigen
An antigen is a foreign molecule that, when introduced into the body, triggers the production of an antibody by the immune system. The immune system will then kill or neutralize the antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. These invaders can be molecules such as...
. Potentiators are used in the clinical laboratory for performing blood bank
Blood bank
A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusion. The term "blood bank" typically refers to a division of a hospital laboratory where the storage of blood product occurs and where proper...
ing procedures that require enhancement of agglutination
Agglutination
In contemporary linguistics, agglutination usually refers to the kind of morphological derivation in which there is a one-to-one correspondence between affixes and syntactical categories. Languages that use agglutination widely are called agglutinative languages...
in order to detect the presence of antibodies or antigens in a patient's blood sample. Examples of potentiators include albumin
Serum albumin
Serum albumin, often referred to simply as albumin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ALB gene.Serum albumin is the most abundant plasma protein in mammals. Albumin is essential for maintaining the osmotic pressure needed for proper distribution of body fluids between intravascular...
, LISS (low ionic-strength saline) and PEG (polyethylene glycol
Polyethylene glycol
Polyethylene glycol is a polyether compound with many applications from industrial manufacturing to medicine. It has also been known as polyethylene oxide or polyoxyethylene , depending on its molecular weight, and under the tradename Carbowax.-Available forms:PEG, PEO, or POE refers to an...
) . Potentiators are also known as enhancement reagents.
Albumin acts as a potentiator by reducing the zeta potential
Zeta potential
Zeta potential is a scientific term for electrokinetic potential in colloidal systems. In the colloidal chemistry literature, it is usually denoted using the Greek letter zeta, hence ζ-potential...
around the suspended red blood cells, thus dispersing the repulsive negative charges and enhancing agglutination. Low ionic strength saline is a potentiator that acts by not only reducing the zeta potential
Zeta potential
Zeta potential is a scientific term for electrokinetic potential in colloidal systems. In the colloidal chemistry literature, it is usually denoted using the Greek letter zeta, hence ζ-potential...
, but also by increasing the amount of antibody taken up by the red blood cell during sensitization. LISS is a solution of glycine
Glycine
Glycine is an organic compound with the formula NH2CH2COOH. Having a hydrogen substituent as its 'side chain', glycine is the smallest of the 20 amino acids commonly found in proteins. Its codons are GGU, GGC, GGA, GGG cf. the genetic code.Glycine is a colourless, sweet-tasting crystalline solid...
and albumin. Polyethylene glycol in a LISS solution removes water from the system and thus concentrates the antibodies present. PEG can cause non-specific aggregation of cells, thus eliminating the necessity for centrifugation after 37°C incubation. PEG is not appropriate for use in samples from patients with increased plasma protein, such as patients with multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
. False-positive results may occur more frequently with the use of polyethylene glycol due to its strong agglutination capabilities.
Pharmacology
In clinical pharmacology, a potentiator is a drug, herb, or chemical that intensifies the effects of a given drug, such as hydroxyzineHydroxyzine
Hydroxyzine is a first-generation antihistamine of the diphenylmethane and piperazine classes. It was first synthesized by Union Chimique Belge in 1956 and was marketed by Pfizer in the United States later the same year, and is still in widespread use today....
used to get more pain relief and anxiolysis out of an equal dose of an opioid medication. The potentiation can take place at any part of the liberation, absorption, distribution, metabolism & elimination of the drug.