What term is commonly used to describe immunodeficient individuals?

• A. Antigenic
• B. Immunocompromised
• C. Anti-immune
• D. Immunoresistant

Answer: (B)

Immunocompromised describes individuals whose immune system isn’t functioning at full capacity. This means their defenses are reduced, making them more susceptible to infections and disease. Causes can include illnesses like HIV/AIDS, cancer or its treatment, immunosuppressive medications, malnutrition, or congenital immune deficiencies. In a lab or clinical setting, recognizing this helps guide protective measures—such as strict asepsis, reduced exposure to pathogens, careful monitoring, and adjustments to procedures to minimize risk. The other terms don’t fit: antigenic refers to something that elicits an immune response, anti-immune isn’t standard terminology, and immunoresistant would imply resistance to immunity rather than a weakened immune system.