Blood serology studies the liquid component of blood, containing antibodies that can be analyzed for scientific, diagnostic or forensic purposes. It can reveal infections, blood types, autoimmune conditions, and immunodeficiency problems. In forensics, it can determine if blood is human, the sex of the individual, and prepare an antibody and protein profile to link a suspect or victim to a crime scene or weapon.
Blood serology is an aspect of biological, medical, and forensic science that involves the study of blood serum, the liquid component of blood that contains no blood cells or clotting factors. Blood serum contains many antibodies that can be analyzed for scientific, diagnostic or forensic purposes. Antibodies have highly specific structures and are produced by the body to address specific threats, so an analysis of the antibodies contained in a serum sample can often yield valuable information about any infections or illnesses an individual may have. Some aspects of blood serum are unique to each person, so serum analysis can also be used to link an individual to a crime scene if forensic evidence is available. The term “blood serology” can be used to describe the study of blood serum or the practice of analyzing serum for a particular purpose.
A blood serological test is usually quite simple and painless. A health professional takes a small amount of blood from a vein and collects it in a tube or vial. The blood is allowed to clot to remove clotting factors and the liquid serum is separated from the blood cells. The serum is then analyzed for antibody content. The presence of significant amounts of a given antibody may indicate the presence of an infection or ailment.
There is much more information that a blood serology test can be used to reveal. Blood serology can, for example, be used to determine an individual’s blood type. It can also be used to diagnose several autoimmune conditions. The presence of antibodies that target an individual’s proteins or foreign proteins can indicate an autoimmune disease or a rejected blood transfusion. Immunodeficiency problems in which an individual lacks certain necessary antibodies can also be detected through blood serology tests.
Blood serology is commonly used in forensic science, as a large amount of information can be gleaned from a relatively small blood sample. You must ensure that the blood sample is not contaminated to avoid inaccurate results. A forensic scientist can determine whether or not a blood sample is from a human, determine the sex of the individual who has lost blood, and prepare an antibody and protein profile of the blood. This profile can be compared to suspects or victims and can be used to link a suspect or victim to a specific crime scene or weapon.
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