Key Terms in Immunology and Serology

Antiserum

serum that contains antibodies

Blood Bank

department in the medical laboratory where blood components are tested and stored until needed for transfusion; refrigerated unit used for storing blood components

Autoantibody

an antibody directed against the self (one's own tissue)

Reciprocal

inverse; one of one pair of numbers (as 2/3 and 3/2) that has a product of one

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

a disease characterized by inflammation of the joints

Rheumatoid Factors (RF)

autoantibodies directed against human IgG that are often present in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Epstein-Barr Virus (EVP)

a virus that infects lymphocytes and is cause of infectious mononucleosis

Heterophile Antibodies

antibodies that are increased in infectious mononucleosis

Agglutination

the clumping or aggregation of particulate antigens due to reaction with a specific antibody

Anamnesis respond

rapid increase in blood immunoglobulins following a second exposure to an antigen; booster response or secondary response

Antibody (AB)

serum protein that is induced by and reacts specifically with a foreign substance; immunoglobulin

Antigen (AG)

"foreign" substance that induced by an immune response by causing production of antibodies or sensitized lymphocytes that reacts specifically with that substance; immunogen

Autoimmune disease

disease resulting when the immune response is directed at one's own tissues (self-antigens)

B lymphocyte, B cell

a type of lymphocyte primarily responsible for the humoral immune response

Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

a serological test that uses an enzyme-labeled antibody reactant

Epitope

the portion of an antigen that reacts specifically with an antibody; antigenic determinate

Immunocompetent

capable of producing a normal immune response

Immunocompromised

having reduced ability to produce a normal immune response

Immunohematology

the study of the blood group antigens and antibodies; blood banking

Immunology

the branch of medicine involved in the study of the immune processes and immunity

Immunosuppression

suppression of the immune response by physical, chemical, or biological means

Lymphokine

any of several small molecules that are produced by lymphocytes and help regulate the immune response

Monoclonal Antibody

antibody derived from a single cell or cell line or clone

Plasma Cell

a cell that produces antibodies and is derived from a B lymphocyte

Polyclonal Antibodies

antibodies derived from more than one cell line

Precipitation

formation of an insoluble antigen-antibody complex

Primary Lymphoid Organs

organs in which B and T lymphocytes acquire their special characteristic; in humans, the bone marrow and thymus

Secondary Lymphoid Tissue

tissues in which lymphocytes are concentrated, such as the spleen, lymph nodes and tonsils

Seroconversion

the appearance of antibody in the serum of an individual following exposure

Serology

the study antibodies and antigens in serum using immunological methods

T Lymphocyte, T Cell

a type lymphocyte responsible for the cell-mediated immune response

Titer

in serology, the reciprocal of the highest dilution (1:2, 1:16, 1:64 etc.) that gives the desired reaction; concentration of a substance determined by titration. Antibody titer will show how much antibody is in a patient's serum

Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN)

a condition in which antibody from the mother destroys the red blood cells in the fetus

Immunization

the process of producing immunity to an antigen

Rh (D) Immune Globin (RhIG)

a concentrated, purified solution of human anti-D antibody used for injection