In clinical terms, a potentiator is a
reagent
In chemistry, a reagent ( ) or analytical reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or test if one occurs. The terms ''reactant'' and ''reagent'' are often used interchangeably, but reactant specifies a ...
that enhances sensitization of an
antigen. Potentiators are used in the clinical laboratory for performing
blood banking procedures that require enhancement of
agglutination 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 (LISS) 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 (PEG) 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 incubation. PEG is not appropriate for use in samples from patients with increased plasma protein, such as patients with
multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, an ...
. 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. For example,
hydroxyzine or
dextromethorphan is 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 and elimination of the drug.
References
{{Reflist
Reagents for organic chemistry
Chemical reactions