Among the several modes of diagnostic testing for infections, serological (i.e. antibody determination) studies are still heavily used. Serodiagnosis of the Infectious Diseases examines this topic in a contemporary context, and in so doing utilizes serodiagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection as the study model. Major serological methods are reviewed, as is the chronological development of serodiagnosis for this infection. There are many important parallels which are applicable to the serodiagnosis of any infectious disease, and history reminds us of how these commonalities need to be reviewed, whether for existing, emerging or newly discovered infectious diseases. Serodiagnosis of the Infectious Diseases is a valuable introduction for infectious disease specialists, bacteriology experts, diagnostic laboratorians and medical students, and technologists taking the microbiology diagnostic methods course.

Zusammenfassung
There are many important parallels which are applicable to the serodiagnosis of any infectious disease, and history reminds us of how these commonalities need to be reviewed, whether for existing, emerging or newly discovered infectious diseases.

Inhalt

1. An Abbreviated Clinical Primer.- 2. Historical Aspects.- 3. Heterophil Antibody.- Streptococcus MG Agglutinins.- Cold agglutinins.- Other Autoantibodies.- 4. Antigenic Relationships.- 5. Immunofluorescence.- 6. Complement Fixation.- 7. Inhibitory Antibody.- 8. Particle Agglutination.- Sensitized Red Cell Agglutination.- Other Particle Carriers.- 9. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis.- 10. Radioimmunoassay.- 11. Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (Conventional Solid Phase).- 12. Immunoblotting.- 13. Humoral or Cell-Mediated Immunodiagnostics.- 14. What Is Rapid Diagnosis?.- 15. Polymerase Chain Reaction: Immunodiagnostic Foe or Necessary Complement?.- 16. Cost and Benefit.- 17. Epilogue.- References.