Serodiagnosis of the Infectious Diseases

Book excerpt: 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 technologies taking the microbiology diagnostic methods course.