| serum iron level | A test that measures the amount of iron (Fe ++) in the blood. The test is performed when iron deficiency is suspected. Normal serum iron is 60 to 170 mcg/dl. Increased levels may be seen in the following: haemochromatosis, haemolysis, haemolytic anaemia, hepatitis, liver necrosis, haemosiderosis, iron poisoning and lead toxicity. Lower than normal levels are seen in chronic GI blood loss, iron deficiency anaemia, insufficient dietary iron, malabsorption, chronic heavy menstrual bleeding, nephrosis and late pregnancy. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| serum lactis | <biology> The fluid protion of milk that separates from curd. (09 Oct 1997) |
| serum nephritis | Glomerulonephritis occurring in serum sickness or in animals injected with foreign serum protein. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum proteins | Dissolved protein's (more than 100) of blood plasma, mainly albumins and globulins (normally 6 to 8 g/100 ml); they hold fluid in blood vessels by osmosis and include antibodies and blood-clotting protein's. Synonym: serum proteins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum prothrombin conversion accelerator | <chemical> Heat- and storage-stable plasma protein that is activated by tissue thromboplastin to form factor viia in the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. The activated form then catalyses the activation of factor x to factor xa. Chemical name: Blood-coagulation factor VII (12 Dec 1998) |
| serum reaction | 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 requirement | The amount of serum that must be added to culture medium to permit growth of an animal cell in culture. Transformed cells frequently have less stringent serum requirements than their normal counterparts. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum response element | Dyad symmetry element bound by serum response factor to control the expression of c fos. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum response factor | Transcription factor that binds to the serum response element upstream of the site of transcription initiation of genes such as c fos. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum shock | Anaphylactic or anaphylactoid shock caused by the injection of antitoxic or other foreign serum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum sickness | 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 therapy | Treatment of an infectious disease by injection of an antitoxin or serum containing specific antibody. Synonym: serum therapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| serum TIBC | <biochemistry, haematology> A test that measures indirectly the transferrin level in the bloodstream. Transferrin is a protein that carries iron in the body. Normal values are 240 to 450 mcg/dl. This test is used to evaluate anaemia. Greater than normal total iron binding capacity can be seen in: iron deficiency anaemia, late pregnancy and polycythaemia vera. Lower than normal total iron binding capacity can be seen in cirrhosis, sickle cell anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, pernicious anaemia and haemolytic anaemia. The use of birth control pills can lead to increased total iron binding capacity measurements. Acronym: TIBC (12 Jan 1998) |
| serum transferrin | <protein> A protein that carries iron in the bloodstream. The percentage of transferrin that has iron bound to it is increased in situations of iron overdose and in the disease haemochromatosis. Serum transferrin is decreased in cases of protein deficiency. (27 Sep 1997) |
| hyperimmune serum | Serum prepared from animals that have recently received repeated injections or applications of a chosen antigen, thus the serum should contain a very high concentration of polyclonal antibodies against that antigen. (18 Nov 1997) |