Los Angeles-based Diagnostic Automation/Cortez Diagnostics, Inc. offers an AMA IFA Test Kit (Antimitochondrial Antibody) Immunofluorescence Assay which is a pre-standardized IFA Test Kit designed to detect the presence of mitochondrial antigens (MA) in human sera.� The AMA IFA Test Kit is a laboratory diagnostic aid, and by itself is not diagnostic.� Positive MA may be found in diseases other than primary biliary cirrhosis.� It is therefore imperative that MA results on this IFA Test Kit be interpreted in light of the patient's clinical condition by a medical authority.

The AMA IFA Test Kit employs rat kidney tissue substrate and anti-human immunoglobulin conjugate adjusted for optimum use dilution with minimum background staining.� The reaction on the AMA IFA Test Kit occurs in two steps:� The first step on this IFA Test Kit involves the interaction of MA (mitochondrial antigens) in the patient serum with the mitochondrial antigens localized in the rat kidney distal tubular epithelium.� The second step on this AMA IFA Test Kit is the reaction between the conjugate and MA attached to the mitochondrial antigens producing apple-green staining in a positive assay, like that in this AMA IFA Test Kit.� �

On this AMA IFA Test Kit, a positive control, negative control, and a buffer should be run with each IFA kit.� It is recommended that one read the positive and negative controls on this IFA Test Kit before evaluating the AMA IFA Test results.� This will assist in establishing the references required to interpret the IFA Test Kit sample.� A negative control on this IFA Test Kit is characterized by the absence of fluorescent staining in the proximal and distal tubular epithelium, and gastric parietal cells.� A positive control on this IFA Test Kit is characterized by apple-green staining in the proximal and distal tubular epithelium, and gastric parietal cells, with a staining intensity of 2+ to 4+.� The intensity of the observed FITC fluorescence on this AMA IFA test kit may vary with the microscope and filter system used.

Before results can be accurately interpreted on this AMA IFA Test Kit, tissue section histology should be fully understood.� Antigen/antibody reactions on this IFA Test Kit other than the primary antibody (MA) initially sought, may occur within the tissue substrate being used.� Tissue antigen-antibody site identification, incorporating appropriate positive and negative controls on this IFA Test Kit can often provide additional diagnostic information to the clinician employing this AMA IFA Test Kit.� Antibodies to ANA and SMA can be detected using this substrate. �

Along with this AMA IFA Test Kit, Diagnostic Automation/Cortez Diagnostics, Inc. offers an AMA IFA Test Kit Slide Package (SP) and several other ELISA/IFA Kits - some of those include, ANA IFA Test kits, ATA IFA Test Kits, DNA IFA Test Kits, Epstein Barr IFA Test Kit, FTA IFA Test Kits, HSV IFA Test Kits, and Toxoplasma IFA Test Kits.� For more information about these IFA Test Kits, or any ELISA Test Kits or Rapid Tests, please contact our Customer Service Department.