Immunization

Immunotherapy – preformed Ab Immune serum globulin – (gamma globulin) contains immunoglobulin extracted from the pooled blood of at least 1,000 human donors Treatment of choice for preventing measles, hepatitis A and replacing Ab in the immune deficient Lasts 2-3 months

Immunotherapy – Continued Provides a high titer of a specific Ab Available for pertussis, tetanus, chickenpox, hepatitis B Sera produced in horses are available for diphtheria, botulism, spider and snake bites Acts immediately & can protect patients for whom no other useful medication exists

Vaccines Provide an antigenic stimulus that does not cause disease but can produce long lasting, protective immunity

Serology A science that attempts to detect signs of infection in a patient’s serum such as Ab for a specific microbe Serological tests based on Abs specifically binding to Ag. Ag of known identity will react with Ab in an unknown serum sample. Known Ab can be used to detect Ag in serum Ag-Ab reactions are visible by clumps, precipitates, color changes or release of radioactivity. The most effective tests have high specificity and sensitivity.