Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Primary isolate
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Primary isolate is a pure microbial or viral sample that has been obtained from an infected individual, rather than grown in a laboratory. In chemistry and bacteriology, the verb isolate means to obtain a pure chemical, bacteriological or viral sample. The noun ‘isolate’ refers to the sample itself.
According to the ‘Bulletin of Experimental Treatments for AIDS, Year-End, 1999’ glossary,[1] a primary isolate is “HIV taken from an infected individual, as opposed to that grown in a laboratory.”
Primary isolate is also used to describe functions available with certain pipeline valves used in the petroleum and natural gas industries: “DFB Series Integral Block & Bleed Ball Valve…A range of flanged ball valves with the option of Primary Isolate, Primary Isolate & Vent & Primary & Secondary Isolate & Vent.”[2]
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]