| serum accident | Anaphylactic shock resulting from injection of foreign serum for therapeutic purposes. See: serum sickness. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| serum agar | An enriched medium for cultivation of fastidious organisms; prepared by adding sterile serum to melted agar. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum agglutinin | An antibody which coats erythrocytes; the cells do not agglutinate when suspended in saline, but do agglutinate when suspended in serum or other protein media such as albumin. Synonym: incomplete antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum albumin | <protein> The serum level of the low molecular protein albumin. Albumin, produced by the liver, plays an important role in maintaining plasma oncotic pressure. Normal serum albumin should be 3.5-5.0 grams per decilitre. Low serum albumin can be found in cases of liver disease and malnutrition. (27 Sep 1997) |
| serum albumin, bovine | Serum albumin from cows, commonly used in in vitro biological studies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| serum albumin, radio-iodinated | <chemical> Normal human serum albumin mildly iodinated with radioactive iodine (131-I) which has a half-life of 8 days, and emits beta and gamma rays. It is used as a diagnostic aid in blood volume determination. Pharmacological action: radiopharmaceuticals. (12 Dec 1998) |
| serum amyloid | In secondary amyloidosis the fibrils deposited in tissues are unrelated to immunoglobulin light chains (in contrast to the situation in primary amyloidosis) and are made of amyloid A protein (AA protein). This is derived from serum amyloid A (SAA) that is the apolipoprotein of a high density lipoprotein and an acute phase protein. Partial proteolysis converts SAA into the pleated sheet configuration of the amyloid fibrils. Amyloid P protein is also found as a minor component of the fibrils (in both primary and secondary amyloidosis) and is derived from serum amyloid P that has similarity to C-reactive protein. The physiological role remains obscure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum amyloid P component | Precursor of amyloid component P, found in basement membrane. Member of the pentraxin family. See: serum amyloid. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum bactericidal test | Method of measuring the bactericidal activity contained in a patient's serum as a result of antimicrobial therapy. It is used to monitor the therapy in bacterial endocarditis, osteomyelitis and other serious bacterial infections. As commonly performed, the test is a variation of the broth dilution test. (12 Dec 1998) |
| serum bicarbonate | A measure of the bicarbonate level in the blood based on a venipuncture specimen. The serum carbon dioxide is one of the normally reported values in the electrolytes profile. Lower levels of carbon dioxide indicate an acidosis. The normal level is 20 to 29 mEq/L. Lower than normal levels can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, alcoholic ketoacidosis, kidney disease, renal failure, diarrhoea, Addison's disease, ethylene glycol poisoning or methanol poisoning. Greater than normal levels can be seen with excessive vomiting, hyperaldosteronism and Cushing's syndrome. (27 Sep 1997) |
| serum cholinesterase | <enzyme> A test which measures acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase, two enzymes which normally breakdown acetylcholine. Acetylcholinesterase is found in nerve tissue while pseudocholinesterase is found primarily in the liver. This test may be performed as a screening tool prior to the administration of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). It is also useful in identifying organophosphate toxicity or congenital enzyme deficiencies. (27 Sep 1997) |
| serum disease | A hypersensitivity response (type III) to the injection of large amounts of antigen, as might happen when large amounts of antiserum are given in a passive immunisation. The effects are caused by the presence of soluble immune complexes in the tissues. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum erythropoietin | <protein> Erythropoietin is a protein hormone which is produced by specialised cells in the kidneys. These cells are sensitive to low arterial oxygen concentration and will release erythropoietin when oxygen is low. Erythropoietin stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells (to increase the oxygen caring capacity of the blood). The measurement of this hormone in the bloodstream can indicate bone marrow disorders or kidney disease. Normal levels of erythropoietin are 0 to 19 mU/ml (milliunits per millilitre). Elevated levels can be seen in polycythaemia vera. Lower than normal values are seen in chronic renal failure. (27 Sep 1997) |
| serum factor VIII antigen | A test used to measure the activity of a blood clotting factor VIII (Von Willebrand factor). This test is usually used to monitor treatment of haemophilia. Abnormally low factor VIII assays may be seen in the following conditions: congenital deficiency of factor VIII (haemophilia), DIC and secondary fibrinolysis. This test may also be performed in the evaluation of Von Willebrand's disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
| serum-fast | 1. Pertaining to a serum in which there is little or no change in the titre of antibody, even under conditions of treatment or immunologic stimulation. 2. Resistant to the destructive effect of sera. Synonym: serofast. (05 Mar 2000) |