Serology

Serology is the scientific study of serum and

other body 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
Serological tests are diagnostic methods that are used to identify
antibodies and antigens in a patient's sample. Serological tests
may be performed to diagnose infections and autoimmune
illnesses, to check if a person has immunity to certain diseases,
and in many other situations, such as determining an
individual's blood type.
 Serological tests
Including
ELISA,
agglutination,
precipitation,
complement-fixation,
fluorescent antibodies
 Applications
1-Microbiology
In microbiology, serologic tests are used to
determine if a person has antibodies against a
specific pathogen, or to detect antigens associated
with a pathogen in a person's sample. Serologic
tests are especially useful for organisms that are
difficult to culture by routine laboratory methods,
like Treponema pallidum (the causative agent
of syphilis), or viruses.
The presence of antibodies against a
pathogen in a person's blood indicates that
they have been exposed to that pathogen.
Most serologic tests measure one of two types
of antibodies:
immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin
G (IgG). IgM is produced in high quantities
shortly after a person is exposed to the
pathogen, and production declines quickly
thereafter.
 Transfusion medicine
Blood typing is typically performed using
serologic methods. The antigens on a person's
red blood cells, which determine their blood
type, are identified using reagents that
contain antibodies, called antisera. When the
antibodies bind to red blood cells that express
the corresponding antigen, they cause red
blood cells to clump together (agglutinate),
which can be identified visually.
 Immunology
Serologic tests can help to diagnose
autoimmune disorders by identifying
abnormal antibodies directed against a
person's own tissues (autoantibodies)
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