szerológiai

Szerológiai (serology) is the branch of immunology and clinical laboratory medicine that studies the interactions between antibodies and antigens in serum. It involves detecting and measuring immune responses to pathogens, vaccines, or other foreign substances, as well as identifying circulating antigens. Serological testing supports diagnosis, assessment of immune status, blood transfusion safety, and epidemiological surveillance.

Common methods used in serology include agglutination and precipitation techniques, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), Western blot, indirect immunofluorescence, and rapid immunochromatographic tests. Tests can be qualitative or quantitative and may target pathogen-specific antibodies, total immunoglobulins, or specific antigens. The analysis often relies on paired serum samples to detect seroconversion or rising antibody titers, which help indicate recent infection or immune response.

Applications span infectious diseases, vaccination monitoring, and autoimmune or allergen-related testing. Serology is routinely used for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and other infections, as well as for blood donor screening. It also supports autoimmune disease workups through autoantibodies such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA) or rheumatoid factor (RF). In public health, serology informs seroprevalence studies and assessments of herd immunity.

Limitations include the window period before antibodies become detectable, cross-reactivity that may cause false positives, and non-specific reactions. Vaccination and prior exposure can influence interpretation. Serology is best interpreted in the clinical context and often complemented by molecular methods (e.g., PCR) when direct pathogen detection is required. The field has evolved with increasingly sensitive and specific immunoassays and rapid point-of-care tests.