LingvoCore.com

schick test

Rare
UK/ʃɪk tɛst/US/ʃɪk tɛst/

Technical / Historical

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A diagnostic skin test to determine immunity or susceptibility to diphtheria, named after the physician Béla Schick.

Historically used to refer to a specific immunological test; now often referenced in historical medical texts or as a dated example of a diagnostic procedure.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

This is a historical medical term, almost exclusively used in past medical literature. It is a proper noun (capitalized 'Schick') but often appears in lowercase in common reference.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in usage; term is equally historical in both varieties.

Connotations

Purely medical/historical. May evoke early 20th-century public health campaigns.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both. Likely only encountered in historical medical texts or discussions of medical history.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
The Schick testperform a Schick testSchick test results
medium
positive Schick testnegative Schick testunderwent a Schick test
weak
old Schick testhistorical testdiagnostic procedure

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The doctor performed [a Schick test] on the patient.The patient was given [a Schick test].Results from [the Schick test] indicated susceptibility.

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Neutral

diphtheria immunity test

Weak

skin testdiagnostic test

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in historical or medical history papers discussing early 20th-century diagnostics.

Everyday

Virtually never used in everyday conversation.

Technical

Used in historical medical texts or when discussing the history of immunology.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • This is a very old test.
B1
  • The Schick test was used to check for diphtheria.
B2
  • In the early 1900s, children were often given the Schick test to determine their need for immunisation.
C1
  • The widespread adoption of the Schick test represented a major advance in preventative public health, allowing for targeted prophylactic treatment.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'SCHICK' sounds like 'quick' - a quick skin test for DIPHTHERIA.

Conceptual Metaphor

A TEST IS A PROBE (into the body's defenses).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Не переводить буквально как "шик тест" (шик = шикарный).
  • Это имя собственное (Шик), сохраняется в транслитерации: "проба Шика".

Common Mistakes

  • Misspelling as 'chick test' or 'shick test'.
  • Incorrectly using it as a general term for any skin test.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Before the modern vaccine, doctors used the to see if someone was immune to diphtheria.
Multiple Choice

The Schick test is primarily associated with which disease?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a historical test. Modern laboratory methods have replaced it for determining immunity to diphtheria.

Historically, a positive reaction (redness) indicated a lack of antibodies, meaning the person was susceptible to diphtheria.

It was developed by the Austrian-American paediatrician Béla Schick in 1913.

It is very unlikely outside of specialized historical or medical reading. It serves as an example of a historical technical term.