Immunology and Serology
What are immunology and serology?
Immunology is the study of the body's immune system and its functions and disorders. Serology is the study of blood serum (the clear fluid that separates when blood clots).
Immunology and serology laboratories focus on the following:
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Identifying antibodies. These are proteins made by a type of white blood cell in response to a foreign substance (antigen) in the body.
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Investigating problems with the immune system. These include when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues (autoimmune diseases) and when a body's immune system is underactive (immunodeficiency disorders).
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Determining organ, tissue, and fluid compatibility for transplantation
Common immunology and serology tests
| Test | Uses |
|---|---|
| Immunoglobulins | These are proteins in the body that have antibody activity. Excessive amounts of these proteins may be caused by a variety of conditions including infection, autoimmune disorders, cancers, and chronic diseases. A lack of these proteins may be caused by many conditions including cancers, medicines, and chronic diseases |
| Rheumatoid factor | Used to help classify arthritis and diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Other tests are often used as well to classify and determine types of arthritis. |
| HLA (human leukocyte antigens) typing | Tested to determine compatibility in organ, tissue, and bone marrow transplantation. Also tested to determine paternity, and to diagnose HLA-related disorders such as certain autoimmune conditions. |
#TomorrowsDiscoveries: Giving Immune Response a Nano-Boost— Dr. Jonathan Schneck
#TomorrowsDiscoveries: Can a custom-built white blood cell avoid suppression by cancer and boost our immune system? Dr. Jonathan Schneck has developed “artificial antigen-presenting cells” and is working to put them to use in the clinic.
