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Glite Dictionary
Forssman antibody

Forssman antibody

9.9
A blood protein the body makes when it fights certain infections that helps doctors find the illness
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔrsˌmæn ˈæntɪˌbodi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anticuerpo de Forssman
  • The presence of a Forssman antibody can aid in diagnosing infectious mononucleosis.

Examples

  • Researchers measured the patient's Forssman antibody levels as part of the diagnostic workup.

  • Doctors often test for Forssman antibodies in patients with unusual symptoms.

  • A positive Forssman antibody test may indicate certain viral infections.

  • The presence of Forssman antibody can indicate infectious mononucleosis.

  • A positive Forssman antibody test may indicate certain viral infections.

  • Researchers measured the patient's Forssman antibody levels as part of the diagnostic workup.

  • The presence of a Forssman antibody can aid in diagnosing infectious mononucleosis.

Synonyms

heterophile antibody
vsForssman antibody
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A substance in the blood that reacts to parts from other animals and often appears in people with glandular fever

is seen by its disease association rather than by cross species reactivity
heterophil antibody
vsForssman antibody
  • Specialized
7.8

An antibody in blood that helps doctors diagnose glandular fever

is found in multiple diseases rather than only one specific infection

Surface Forms

Forssman antibody singular
Forssman antibodies plural

Morphology

Forssman + antibody

This is an eponymous noun compound: 'antibody' is transparent and 'Forssman' signals a specific named type, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes a particular kind of antibody. However, the clinical meaning (its diagnostic role and disease associations) is specialized and not predictable from the parts alone, making the overall sense only partially accessible.

Etymology

Forssman antibody is named after a scientist called Forssman who first saw a clear reaction when he mixed blood from different animals and people. This visible reaction showed a special antibody was present, so today a Forssman antibody means an antibody doctors can use to 'diagnose' certain infections.