passive immunity
What passive immunity means in Biology A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of passive immunity
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Reference: OCR
Ready-made antibodies are received rather than produced, giving immediate protection that is short-lived because no memory cells are generated.
Antibodies are made elsewhere and introduced ready-made, so the person's own immune system has not responded to the antigen.
Topics that use passive immunity
- Cell recognition and the immune system (AQA A-Level)
- Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- active immunity
- agglutination
- secondary response
- Active immunity and memory cells
- Animal and recombinant sources
- Animal communicable diseases
- animal use in production and testing
- antibody
Using passive immunity in the exam
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