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Glite Dictionary
Wassermann

Wassermann

9.9
A test of blood that checks for signs of syphilis
  • noun
  • /ˈwɑːsərˌmæn/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Wassermann
  • The doctor ordered a Wassermann to screen for syphilis in the patient.

Examples

  • Before modern tests, the Wassermann was commonly used for diagnosing syphilis.

  • A positive Wassermann result required further confirmatory testing in many cases.

  • The doctor ordered a Wassermann test for his patient.

  • Have you ever had a Wassermann test?

  • Before modern tests, the Wassermann was commonly used for diagnosing syphilis.

  • The doctor ordered a Wassermann to screen for syphilis in the patient.

  • A positive Wassermann result required further confirmatory testing in many cases.

Synonyms

Wassermann test
vsWassermann
  • Archaic
8.7

A blood test once used to find the germs that cause syphilis

is the same procedure but called by a variant name in texts
Wasserman reaction
vsWassermann
  • Archaic
9.9

A blood test once used to check if someone had syphilis

is the same procedure but referred to with an alternative name

Compounds

Wassermann test
  • Archaic
8.7

A blood test once used to find the germs that cause syphilis

Surface Forms

Wassermann singular
Wassermanns plural

Etymology

Wassermann is a German family name made from Wasser ('water') and Mann ('man'), but the medical name comes from the German doctor August von Wassermann who developed the test. So a Wassermann test simply means the blood test Dr Wassermann created to check for syphilis.