serotherapy

Treatment of an infectious disease by injection of an antitoxin or serum containing specific antibody. SYN: serum therapy.

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se·ro·ther·a·py .sir-ō-'ther-ə-pē, .ser- n, pl -pies the treatment of a disease with specific immune serum called also serum therapy

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n.

the use of serum containing known antibodies (see antiserum) to treat a patient with an infection or to confer temporary passive immunity upon a person at special risk. The use of antisera prepared in animals carries its own risks (for example, a patient may become hypersensitive to horse protein); the risk is reduced if the serum is taken from an immune human being.

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se·ro·ther·a·py (sēr″o-therґə-pe) [sero- + therapy] treatment of disease by injection of immune serum or antitoxin.