Phosphatase Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

These methodologies use principles that amplify or multiply the target of interest, usually incorporating an enzyme to produce millions or billions of copies in a relatively short time.Some enzymes used in amplification include: DNA ligase DNA polymerase RNA polymerase Reverse transcriptase Alkaline phosphatase Cleavase Note: the steps in amplified testing will vary depending on the target amplified, requirement for thermal cycling and detection techniques.

Chemiluminescent assays use antibodies that are conjugated to enzymes, such as peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase. These enzymes, mixed with chemiluminescent substrates, produce light in the visible spectrum. A direct relationship exists between the amount of drug that is present in the sample and the light units that are produced and measured by the luminometer in the instrument. Assays that use chemiluminescence are more sensitive than immunoassays that rely on the generation of a colored product.

Albumin (Alb) Bilirubin (Bili) Alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos) Total protein (TP) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Semen is produced as a combination of secretions from the different regions of the male reproductive tract. Each fraction differs in chemical composition and function. The combination of these fractions during ejaculation results in the optimal environment for transporting sperm to the endocervical mucus in the female. Spermatozoa are produced in the testes. They mature in the epididymis. The testes also produce testosterone and inhibin.Fluid from the seminal vesicles accounts for approximately 70% of semen volume. The seminal vesicles are the source of fructose in semen. Fructose is used by the spermatozoa as an energy source.The prostate gland supplies about 20% of the volume of semen. Its fluids include acid phosphatase and proteolytic enzymes that lead to coagulation and subsequent liquefaction of semen. The prostate also contains most of the IgA found in semen.The bulbourethral gland produces mucoproteins that make up about 5% of the volume of semen.

The cytoplasm of eosinophils is evenly filled by numerous orange-red granules of uniform size. They do not overlie the nucleus. The eosinophil granules contain numerous enzymes including peroxidase, phospholipase D, catalase, acid phosphatase, and vitamin B12-binding proteins. Their ability to kill bacteria is less than that of neutrophils. Their main purpose is to counteract parasitic infections and to participate in immune allergic reactions. They may also be increased in a variety of nonimmunologic inflammatory responses from bacteria and fungi causing chronic infections. Malignancies, collagen vascular diseases, and myeloproliferative disorders may also may be settings for prominent eosinophils.

In this photograph of blood cells from yet another submitted slide, we find cells resembling lymphoblasts with increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ratios and dense, finely meshed nuclear chromatin. In addition, note the extrusion of delicate strands of cytoplasm from the outer cell membranes (blue arrow). These are cells connoting hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Under scanning electron microscopy, the cytoplasmic extensions appear to be either slender microvilli or delicate pseudopods. The most helpful confirmatory finding is the detection of acid phosphatase isoenzymne 5 in the cytoplasm of suspected hairy cells by staining. The enzyme concentrates primarily in golgi bodies and in the nuclear membrane and its staining is not inhibited by the addition of tartrate. Stated in another way, hairy cells on the peripheral smears are detected by their staining positively for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. Be suspicious of HCL if marrow resists aspiration-a consequence of reticulin fibrosis of the marrow in HCL.