Schick test
- noun
- /ʃɪk tɛst/
- Archaic
:
prueba de Schick
- The doctor administered a Schick test to determine if the child was immune to diphtheria.
Examples
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During the early 20th century, the Schick test was widely used in public health campaigns.
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After the Schick test, it was clear he needed a vaccine booster.
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The doctor performed a Schick test to check for immunity.
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Have you ever had a Schick test done?
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The doctor administered a Schick test to determine if the child was immune to diphtheria.
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After the Schick test, it was clear he needed a vaccine booster.
-
During the early 20th century, the Schick test was widely used in public health campaigns.
How Reactive
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Archaic
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
Schick + test
The noun 'test' clearly signals a diagnostic procedure, so a B1 learner who knows 'test' will infer that this is some kind of examination. However, 'Schick' is an eponymic proper name with no lexical content indicating diphtheria immunity, so the specific meaning (a diphtheria immunity skin test) cannot be derived from the parts without prior exposure.
Etymology
Schick test was named after Dr. Schick and used a tiny amount of diphtheria toxin put just under the skin to see if the body would react. If the arm showed no reaction, the person was 'immune'; if it did, they were not. So Schick test now means that simple skin check for 'diphtheria' immunity.
