antiserum
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Antiserum, immune serum, antivenom, and vaccine are all substances used to fight disease, but they work differently. Antiserum and immune serum both contain ready-made antibodies from an animal or human donor, giving immediate but short-term protection — immune serum is the broader term for any such preparation. Antivenom is simply a specific type of antiserum used against snake or spider venom. Vaccine, by contrast, contains a weakened or dead germ and stimulates the body to produce its own antibodies over time; it is given before exposure to prevent illness, whereas antiserum is usually given after exposure to treat an existing infection or poisoning. For example, a traveller might receive a rabies vaccine before a trip, but a bitten child would receive rabies antiserum immediately.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word combines anti- (meaning 'against') with serum (the clear liquid part of blood). It was first used in medical English in the late 19th century, shortly after scientists discovered that blood serum from immunised animals could protect others against the same disease.