The immune system is based on antibody-producing cells that have the ability to produce antibodies to a wide variety of antigens. This ability is present even before the individual is exposed to those specific antigens. Therefore, based on this inherent ability, nonspecific stimulation of B cells can result in an increased antibody response to specific antigens.

Serological diagnosis plays a major role in laboratory diagnosis when culture methods are sometimes subject to certain errors and when pathogens are urgent or unidentified.

Serological diagnosis is the first choice or mandatory choice in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. The following are the antigenic relationships in serological diagnostic tests.

Natural variation of immune response; Rheumatoid factor; Determination of specificity; Transmission from mother to fetus; Effects of antibiotics... are complex situations in serological diagnosis.

Antigens used for serological diagnostic tests range from intact bacteria to synthetic peptides.

There are many comparisons of serological techniques listed in the article, it is probably best to acknowledge the generalities that can be made, but the addition of any technique depends very much on the specific pathogen and the circumstances of the disease. In general, there is a trend towards standardisation, high-volume automation and point-of-care testing.

Serological diagnosis has a functional basis of the humoral immune response to infection. For past and present considerations, there is a preference for measuring the cell-mediated immune response to infection.