Serologisk

Serologisk refers to serology, the area of immunology focused on serum and the detection of antibodies and antigens in blood serum. In clinical practice, serology is used to diagnose infections, determine immune status, assess exposure to pathogens, and support transfusion medicine through compatibility testing.

Serological methods include agglutination and precipitation assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), Western blot, and immunofluorescence. Rapid lateral flow immunoassays provide point-of-care results. Tests may be qualitative or quantitative, reporting the presence or level of specific antibodies or antigens.

Applications include diagnosis of infectious diseases (for example HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis), seroprevalence studies, detection of past infection, monitoring of vaccine responses, and blood typing. Serology is also used in research and epidemiology to study immune responses and in some forensic contexts.

Interpretation relies on test performance characteristics such as sensitivity and specificity, as well as the clinical context. False positives can arise from cross-reactivity or nonspecific binding; false negatives may occur in early infection (window period) or due to immune suppression. Confirmation with complementary assays is common when results influence critical decisions.

Origin and scope: the term derives from serum combined with the Greek -logia, and serology has historical roots in the study of antibodies and immune reactions, advancing diagnostics and public health monitoring.