serology

noun

se·​rol·​o·​gy sə-ˈrä-lə-jē 

si-

: a medical science dealing with blood serum especially in regard to its immunological reactions and properties

also : the testing of blood serum to detect the presence of antibodies against a specific antigen

serological

ˌsir-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

or serologic

ˌsir-ə-ˈlä-jik 

serologically

ˌsir-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

serologist

sə-ˈrä-lə-jist 

si-

noun

Examples of serology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those cases were discovered using blood, or serology, testing and seem to have been transmitted from sick animals, not people. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

In last week’s announcement, the CDC said blood samples from the infected person in Missouri and their household contact are being sent to the agency to test for antibodies to the virus (a lab process called serology). —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024

Other serology tests are designed to detect IgG antibodies, which take longer for the body to produce but function to provide longer term immunity. —Matthew Binnicker, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024

But finally, there’s been a breakthrough on this front: Health authorities in Michigan are conducting a small serology study, with the cooperation of an undisclosed number of farms in that state. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 1 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

sero- + -logy, probably after German Serologie

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

serology

noun

se·​rol·​o·​gy si-ˈräl-ə-jē 

plural serologies

: a medical science dealing with blood serum especially in regard to its immunological reactions and properties

also : the testing of blood serum to detect the presence of antibodies against a specific antigen