Microbiological Techniques (Note 2)
MCB 324
300 Level
Serology
Serology is the scientific study of plasma serum and other bodily
fluids. In practice, the term usually refers to the diagnostic
identification of antibodies in the serum. Such antibodies are typically
formed in response to an infection (against a given microorganism),
against other foreign proteins (in response, for example, to a mismatched blood
transfusion), or to one's own proteins (in instances of autoimmune disease).
Serological tests may be performed for diagnostic purposes when an infection is
suspected, in rheumatic illnesses, and in many other situations, such as
checking an individual's blood type. Serology blood tests help to diagnose
patients with certain immune deficiencies associated with the lack of antibodies,
such as X-linked agammaglobulinemia. In such
cases, tests for antibodies will be consistently negative.
There are several serology techniques that can be used depending on the
antibodies being studied. These include: ELISA, agglutination, precipitation, complement-fixation, and fluorescent antibodies.
Some serological tests are not limited to blood serum, but can also be
performed on other bodily fluids such as semen and saliva, which have
(roughly) similar properties to serum.
Serological tests may also be used forensically,
specifically for a piece of evidence (e.g., linking a rapist to a semen
sample).
Serological surveys
Serological surveys are often used by epidemiologists
to determine the prevalence of a disease in a population. Such surveys are
sometimes performed by random, anonymous sampling from samples taken for other
sexual tests.
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