Which statement about artificial passive immunity is correct?

Which statement about artificial passive immunity is correct?

• A. It is produced by the recipient's own immune system
• B. It provides lifelong immunity
• C. It requires prior exposure to antigen
• D. It is achieved by administration of pre-formed antibodies

Answer: (D)

Artificial passive immunity involves giving someone ready-made antibodies from outside the body, providing immediate protection without the recipient’s immune system having to make antibodies or memory cells. This directly corresponds to administering pre-formed antibodies, which is why this option is correct. Because the antibodies come from another source, the body's own immune system isn’t activated to produce its own response, so there’s no long-term immune memory and the protection is temporary. Prior exposure to the antigen isn’t required, and lifelong immunity isn’t conferred, since the protection relies on the circulating antibodies that will eventually be cleared. This approach is used after exposure or to neutralize toxins, such as with immune globulin preparations for tetanus or rabies.

Artificial passive immunity involves giving someone ready-made antibodies from outside the body, providing immediate protection without the recipient’s immune system having to make antibodies or memory cells. This directly corresponds to administering pre-formed antibodies, which is why this option is correct. Because the antibodies come from another source, the body's own immune system isn’t activated to produce its own response, so there’s no long-term immune memory and the protection is temporary. Prior exposure to the antigen isn’t required, and lifelong immunity isn’t conferred, since the protection relies on the circulating antibodies that will eventually be cleared. This approach is used after exposure or to neutralize toxins, such as with immune globulin preparations for tetanus or rabies.