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serum
(sēr´әm)
pl. serums, se´ra
the clear portion of any animal or plant fluid that remains after the solid elements have been separated out. The term usually
refers to blood serum, the clear, straw-colored, liquid portion of the plasma that does not contain fibrinogen or blood cells,
and remains fluid after clotting of blood. Blood serum from persons or animals whose bodies have built up antibodies is called
antiserum or immune serum. Inoculation with such an antiserum provides temporary, or passive, immunity against the disease, and is used when a person
has already been exposed to or has contracted the disease. Diseases in which passive immunization is sometimes used include
diphtheria, tetanus, botulism, and gas gangrene.

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