The Seroconversion reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Seroconversion

Seroconversion is the development of detectable specific antibodies to microorganisms in the serum as a result of infection or immunization. Prior to seroconversion, the blood tests seronegative for the antibody; after seroconversion, the blood tests seropositive for the antibody.

The word is often used in reference to blood testing for anti-HIV antibodies.

Background

The immune system maintains an "immunological memory" against past pathogens to facilitate early detection and to confer protective immunity against a rechallenge. This explains why many childhood diseases never recur in adulthood (and when they to, generally point at immunosuppression).

a primary immune response, both IgG and IgM immunoglobulins are produced. IgM levels return to negative, but IgG levels remain detectable. Upon reinfection, IgM levels rise again. IgG levels can increase slightly, but an elevated IgG titre cannot reveal if the infection is recent. IgM can be used to detect recent infections.

This article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This is the "Seroconversion" reference article from the English Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. See also our Disclaimer.