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The serum is obtained from the blood of an animal (or human) that is first given the vaccine, and as a result the body produces specific antibodies. Later, serum is produced from his blood, which can be transfused to a human. The serum, which is produced by centrifuging the blood clotted, contains antibodies, including those directed against blood group antigens (anti-A and anti-B).
Serum has healing properties, thanks to which it helps to neutralize bacterial toxins. As a consequence, it is used to treat: diphtheria, tetanus, rabies, gas gangrene bacterial infection, botulism or bites by poisonous species of snakes.
Serum and vaccine – differences
Both the serum and the vaccine are to counteract the disease, with the difference, however, that the vaccine is administered to a healthy person in order to force the body to produce itself. antibodies and, as a result, she could avoid illness. The serum, on the other hand, is given to people who are already infected so that with the help of ready-made antibodies they can fight disease or infection. A single administration of the vaccine provokes the body’s immune reaction, thanks to which active immunity is obtained. Such immunity is characterized by a long duration and is effective in preventing a specific disease. The serum is administered immediately after infection (e.g. with tetanus), which neutralizes harmful toxins faster than would be needed to produce antibodies. It is passive immunity, but it is short-lived.
Lipemic serum
Lipemic serum is associated with lipid metabolism disorders. This means that we are dealing with elevated levels of triglycerides or cholesterol. However, their excess causes changes in the properties of blood serum (including its color and density). It should be remembered that lipemic serum does not have to be associated with a dangerous disease every time. Sometimes it is found in the results of people who have eaten a meal before a blood test or, for example, are very stressed.
Lipemia – what is it?
Lipemia is a condition that indicates disturbed levels of lipoproteins in the blood. The analysis takes into account chylomicrons, whose task is to transport fats from food to the liver, and VLDL (so-called very low-density lipoproteins), which are responsible for transporting fats from the liver to organs. If both of these fractions are highly represented in the blood, then lipemia occurs.
Obese people who like to eat too much fatty foods are most often exposed to serum lipemia. In addition, the cause of lipemic serum formation may be diseases causing disorders of VLDL and chylomicron absorption, which include:
- alcoholism,
- diabetes
- chronic kidney and pancreatic diseases,
- liver disease
- Hypothyroidism,
- systemic lupus,
- myeloma.