Wassermann, August von, << WAH suhr muhn or VAHS uhr `mahn,` OW goost fuhn >> (1866-1925), was a German bacteriologist and immunologist. He became well known for the development of an important blood test used to diagnose syphilis called the Wassermann test. The test, announced in 1906, became a model for later research on blood tests to determine the presence of antibodies to viruses and other disease agents. Today, the Wassermann test has been largely replaced by other tests for syphilis.
Wassermann was born on Feb. 21, 1866, in Bamberg, Germany. During the 1890’s, Wassermann became noted for his research on cholera and diphtheria immunity. He discovered that people possess varying amounts of resistance to diseases. After 1900, Wassermann helped develop diagnostic tests for tuberculosis. In 1913, he became director of his own institute of experimental therapy. He died on March 16, 1925.
