seroconversion Biol. and Med.
(ˌsɪərəʊkənˈvɜːʃən)
[f. sero- + conversion.]
A change from a seronegative to a seropositive state.
| 1964 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 18 May 639 (heading) Poliovirus shedding and seroconversion. 1968 New Scientist 28 Nov. 500/2 Successive tests then showed that there were nine seroconversions... Illnesses that suggested viral infection preceded seroconversion in four of the children. 1977 Lancet 15 Oct. 811/1 Vaccination of children in the first 6 months of life was unsuccessful—only 1 seroconversion in 58. |
Hence seroconˈvert v. intr., to acquire such sensitivity.
| 1969 Amer. Jrnl. Dis. Children CXVIII. 331/1 Antibody was slower to appear, titers were lower, one of the animals failed to seroconvert, and SN antibody was not detected. 1977 Lancet 18 June 1314/2 Of these [patients],..1 sero⁓converted to positive anti-HB8. |