serum

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serum (blood serum) (seer-ŭm) n. the fluid that separates from clotted blood or blood plasma that is allowed to stand. Serum is essentially similar in composition to plasma but lacks fibrinogen and other substances that are used in the coagulation process. s. sickness a reaction that sometimes occurs 7–12 days after injection of a quantity of foreign antigen. Large immune complexes are deposited in the arteries, kidneys, and joints, causing vasculitis, nephritis, and arthritis.

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