| univalent | <chemistry> Having a valence of one; capable of combining with, or of being substituted for, one atom of hydrogen; monovalent; said of certain atoms and radicals. Origin: Uni- + L. Valens, -entis, p. Pr. See Valence. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| univalent antibody | An "incomplete" form of antibody that may coat antigen, but which according to the "lattice theory" does not have a second receptor for attachment to another molecule of antigen; in the case of Rh+ erythrocytes, such an anti-Rh antibody may coat the cells but not cause them to agglutinate in saline; however, agglutination does occur when such coated cells are suspended in serum or other protein media, such as albumin, therefore called serum agglutinin. Synonym: incomplete antibody, inhibiting antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |