IFA full form in medical term is Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay. There are two tests taken for ANAs, and IFA is one of those tests. Ideally, Hep-2 cells are used as a substrate to identify the antibodies in human serum. These cells are one of the most common substrates for ANA detection by IFA.
Another abbreviation of IFA is Iron and Folic Acid taken by ante-natal mothers in a rural areas of India. These tablets are recommended for the treatment and prevention of anemia across the life cycle, such as 6 months to 5 years, 5 years to 10 years, and 10 years to 19 years for women of reproductive age during lactation and pregnancy.
IFA is a blend of water and oil that is combined with a particular antigen to increase the immune response to that antigen. Also known as an immune modulator, IFA is an effective way to increase the immune response to cancer vaccines and is being studied in immunotherapy. In the medical field, this vaccine is also called Montanide ISA-51 and incomplete Freund’s adjuvant.