polyvalent

[ pol-ee-vey-luhnt, puh-liv-uh-luhnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

Chemistry. having more than one valence.
Bacteriology. (of an immune serum) containing several antibodies, each capable of reacting with a specific antigen.

polyvalent

/ pəˈlɪvələnt; ˌpɒlɪˈveɪlənt /

chem having more than one valency
of a vaccine
1. effective against several strains of the same disease-producing microorganism, antigen, or toxin
2. produced from cultures containing several strains of the same microorganism

polyvalent

/ pŏl′ē-vā′lənt /

Acting against or interacting with more than one kind of antigen, antibody, toxin, or microorganism.
Having more than one valence. Iron and manganese are polyvalent elements.

First recorded in 1880–85; poly- + -valent

The general use of the present commercial polyvalent protective against influenza is not considered desirable.

The complement fixation test is like a Wassermann reaction, but the antigen should be polyvalent.

A polyvalent vaccine contains several strains of the infective agent and a mixed contains several different organisms.

Commercial vaccines are stock vaccines and are usually polyvalent or even mixed.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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