CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

CHAPTER 16: IMMUNOLOGY AND SEROLOGY 413
Summary
A patient who has been exposed to or has become infected by a certain virus
will form antibodies to combat the invading organism. Tests to determine these
diseases may contain antigens that may include the actual organism that is
infecting the patient but has been rendered harmless. Testing for a specific reaction
between a patient’s antibody and an infective organism is called an indirect
method because only the antibodies are identified. Testing for the actual antigens
(organisms) would be a direct method.
Basic principles of immunology, which may require a serological test using
serum, a component of blood, are used to diagnose infectious diseases. In addition,
serology is important in diagnosing many other disorders that may cause
the formation of antibodies against microorganisms or altered tissues of the
body. Knowledge of the immune system from an anatomy and physiology course
would be valuable in understanding the concepts of immunology and serology.
This chapter discusses a few tests to orient the learner to the procedures
for simple slide-type tests, as well as serial dilution of antibodies present. The
value of this procedure is to determine an approximate antibody response to
an infective organism. The physician may request an acute and a convalescent
test, where two samples are collected 10 days apart. A higher value in the acute
sample (the first) would indicate an early process in the disease. If the initial
specimen is lower, and the convalescent level of antibodies has leveled off, the
patient is recovering from the initial infection.
Treating various types of cancer is a growing segment of advances in immunology.
A great deal of research is ongoing in which antibodies against tumor
cells would become available. Efforts toward developing antibody treatment
against malignant melanoma has gained much attention.
Review Questions
1. Name at least five entities that may be viewed by the human body as an
antigen that might elicit an antibody reaction.
2. Describe the difference between a qualitative and a quantitative test.
3. What is an autoimmune disease?
4. What is meant by a prozone reaction?
5. What is the basic difference between direct and indirect testing?
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