What is the Difference Between Serum and Antiserum?

The main difference between serum and antiserum lies in their composition and purpose:

• Serum is blood plasma without clotting factors. It is a straw-colored fluid separated from clotted blood and contains essential substances such as oxygen and nutrients for the body's cells.
• Antiserum is an antibody-rich serum extracted from an immunized animal or individual. It contains antibodies (either monoclonal or polyclonal) that are used to spread passive immunity to many diseases. Antisera are widely used in diagnostic virology laboratories and as antitoxins or antivenoms to treat envenomation.

In summary, serum is a natural fluid component of blood, while antiserum is an antibody-rich serum obtained from an immunized animal or human, used for passive immunization and diagnostic purposes.

Comparative Table: Serum vs Antiserum

The main difference between serum and antiserum lies in their antibody content and purpose. Here is a table highlighting the differences:

Serum contains a variety of antibodies produced by the immune system, which provide the majority of antibody-based immunity against invading pathogens. On the other hand, antiserum is a blood serum containing a high concentration of specific antibodies against a particular antigen. Antiserum can be raised in various vertebrate animals, such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, chickens, sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, and horses.