passive transfer

noun

: a local transfer of skin sensitivity from an allergic to a normal person by injection of serum from the former that is used especially for identifying specific allergens when a high degree of allergic sensitivity is suspected

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

passive transfer

noun

: a local transfer of skin sensitivity from an allergic to a normal individual by injection of the allergic individual's serum that is used especially for identifying specific allergens when a high degree of sensitivity is suspected

called also Prausnitz-Küstner reaction