Western blot

American  

noun

Biology, Medicine/Medical.

1. a highly sensitive procedure for identifying and measuring the amount of a specific protein in a mixed extract, as in testing for AIDS virus protein in a blood sample: proteins are separated by gel electrophoresis and transferred to a special filter paper, on which the protein under investigation can be detected by a probe, as the binding of a labeled antibody.

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Etymology

Origin of Western blot

Originally a facetious counterpart to Southern blot

Compare meaning

How does western-blot compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Southern blot vs. Western blot

Example Sentences

The panel also found that Wang “starkly siloed” Western blot preparation in his lab, apparently preparing nearly all such images himself—a highly unusual practice for a lab’s principal investigator.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 12, 2023

Western blot images are ubiquitous in the medical and biological literature, but because they're such simple images, they're easy to fake, and blot fraud is surprisingly common.

From Scientific American • Nov. 29, 2017

Western blot procedure was performed as previously described11, 14.

From Nature • Mar. 19, 2017

A Western blot test, which can confirm the diagnosis, was strongly positive.

From Washington Post • Jun. 6, 2016

If your value is less than 3.5, ask to be tested again with a different test, preferably with another antibody test called the Western blot.

From New York Times • Aug. 27, 2010