serology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic, Technical, Medical
Quick answer
What does “serology” mean?
The scientific study of blood serum and other bodily fluids, especially in relation to the detection of antibodies and antigens for disease diagnosis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The scientific study of blood serum and other bodily fluids, especially in relation to the detection of antibodies and antigens for disease diagnosis.
The branch of medicine and immunology concerned with identifying antibodies in the serum, used to diagnose infections, determine immune status, and conduct epidemiological studies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in medical and research contexts.
Frequency
Equally frequent in academic and medical discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “serology” in a Sentence
serology for (a disease/antibody)serology of (a patient/population)serology from (a sample/lab)serology is positive/negative/reactiveVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “serology” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Serological surveillance is key to tracking the outbreak.
- The lab requires a serological confirmation.
American English
- Serological evidence confirms past infection.
- We ordered a serological panel.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used only in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or diagnostic company contexts.
Academic
Common in medical, immunological, and epidemiological research papers and lectures.
Everyday
Very rare. May be heard in news reports about disease outbreaks or personal medical discussions.
Technical
The primary register. Used routinely in clinical medicine, laboratory science, and public health.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “serology”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “serology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “serology”
- Pronouncing it as /seɪˈrɒlədʒi/ (like 'series').
- Using it to refer to any blood test instead of specifically antibody/antigen detection in serum.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Serology detects antibodies (an immune response, indicating past/current infection), while PCR detects the virus's genetic material directly (indicating current infection).
Primarily, but it is also used in autoimmune disease diagnostics (e.g., detecting autoantibodies) and allergy testing.
Not reliably for a new infection. It takes time for antibodies to develop, so a negative result might occur early in an illness. It's better for determining past exposure or immune status.
It is the key event in serology when a person's blood serum changes from testing negative for a specific antibody to testing positive.
The scientific study of blood serum and other bodily fluids, especially in relation to the detection of antibodies and antigens for disease diagnosis.
Serology is usually academic, technical, medical in register.
Serology: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈrɒlədʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈrɑːlədʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SERum + -OLOGY (study of) = the study of serum.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEROLOGY IS A DETECTIVE (it investigates clues/antibodies in the serum to identify diseases).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of serology?