Facts on Serology

Serology is a blood test that's used to detect the presence of antibodies in an organism, according to Medline Plus. When the body is infected some types of microorganisms stimulate the body to produce antibodies to help fight the infection.

Function

• Serology tests involve first drawing blood from a vein, according to Medline Plus. The vein that's used is generally from the inside of the elbow or wrist. Before blood is removed, the area is cleaned with a germ-killing medicine (anti-septic) that also prevents bleeding. To make drawing the blood easier, the doctor or nurse drawing blood will first wrap an elastic band around the upper arm, which applies pressure to the blood vessel. This makes it much easier to draw blood.

  After blood is drawn from the vein into an airtight vile or tube, the needle is removed and the punctured area of the skin is covered with a bandage to stop bleeding.

  After blood is collected it is sent to a laboratory to determine how types of antibodies react to different types of antigens. An antigen is a molecule that triggers the production of antibodies, according to Northwestern University.

Considerations

• When a serology test is being performed on a small child a sharp tool known as a lancet is often used to puncture the skin and make it bleed, according to Medline Plus. Blood is then collected with suction into a glass tube known as a pipet. Sometimes a slide or test strip is used instead of a pipet.

Warning

• When the blood is drawn from the vein some people experience a moderate level of pain while others experience only a small prick or tingling experience, according to Medline Plus. Some individuals experience a throbbing pain after blood is drawn.

Results

• Most of the time antibodies are not found in blood samples when a serology test is formed, according to Medline Plus. However, if antibody's are detected it can be an indicator of a current infection, a past infection and immunity to certain types of diseases. Serology tests are useful for detecting certain types of diseases, including amebiasis, anthrax, brucellosis, HIV, fungal infection, measles, rubella, RSV, syphilis, tularemia and viral hepatitis.

Causes

• Serology tests are often preformed when a patient has an amebic liver abscess, fifth disease, fungal arthritis and meningitis, according to Medline Plus.

Risks

• Risks involved in a serology test include excessive bleeding, fainting or a feeling of being light headed, hematoma and infection, according to Medline Plus.