serum

/'siərəm/

Thân thiện

A scientist carefully examines a vial of serum under bright laboratory lights.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An amber, watery fluid, rich in proteins, that separates from blood when it coagulates: This is the clear, yellowish liquid part of blood that remains after blood cells and clotting factors have been removed. It contains antibodies, electrolytes, and other proteins.
   • Any bodily fluid resembling this, or a preparation of such fluid used for medical purposes: This can refer to similar fluids or to medicinal preparations derived from blood serum, often containing antibodies for treatment or immunization.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The lab technician analyzed the patient's blood serum for antibodies.
  • Antivenom is produced from the serum of immunized animals.
  • The doctor ordered a serum electrolyte test.

Advanced Usage

• "Convalescent serum": Serum taken from a person who has recovered from a disease, used for its antibody content to treat others.
  • Convalescent serum was used as an early treatment for some viral infections.
• "Immune serum": Serum containing a high concentration of antibodies against a specific pathogen or toxin.
  • The patient received an injection of immune serum to combat the snake venom.

Variants and Related Words

• Serous (adj): Of, relating to, or producing serum; having a thin, watery consistency.
  • A serous membrane lines body cavities.
• Serology (n): The scientific study or diagnostic examination of blood serum, especially for immune responses.
  • Serology tests can determine if someone has been exposed to a virus.

Synonyms

• Antiserum: A blood serum containing antibodies against a specific antigen.
• Plasma (Note: Plasma is the liquid component of blood, which contains clotting factors; serum is plasma without those factors.)

Related Phrases (Phrasal verbs are not applicable for this noun)

• Serum sickness: An immune system reaction, similar to an allergy, that can occur after receiving antiserum or certain medications.
  • Symptoms of serum sickness include fever, rash, and joint pain.

Related Idioms

• "Truth serum" (Informal/Colloquial): A misnomer for a drug, like sodium thiopental, supposedly used to make a person tell the truth.
  • In old spy movies, the agent was interrogated under truth serum.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an amber, watery fluid, rich in proteins, that separates out when blood coagulates

Từ đồng nghĩa

• blood serum