The antibody titer is a test that measures the number of antibodies within a person's blood. Primarily used to prove immunity to disease, a blood sample is taken and tested for antibodies in this test. Antibodies, also called immunoglobulin, are nothing but proteins that our immune system produces to fight against microorganisms before they can cause an infection. The role of antibodies is to identify and destroy these foreign invaders that attack our body in the form of bacteria and viruses. These harmful invading microorganisms are known as pathogens that carry substances called antigens along with them. The antibodies hunt for these antigens and quickly bind to them. The binding of antigens to antibodies alerts our immune system and it starts its defense mechanism and begins to fight these substances. Generally, normal values of the antibodies vary with age and sex, abnormal levels indicate a health problem.
Why Is Antibody Titer Test Advised?
An antibody test can be used to determine the following conditions and issues:
- If you need a booster shot for a particular vaccine
- If you have an infection or you were infected by any pathogen in the past
- Whether your immune system has a strong response to your tissues, possibly indicating an autoimmune disorder
- To check if an immunization you have undergone triggers an appropriate response against the disease it is meant to protect you against
- In people with specific autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, the test is done to check the extent of an immune reaction against the body’s own cells
Also Read: Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment
What Happens During The Test?
The antibody titer is a simple low-risk procedure blood test. While drawing the blood, a person may experience some level of discomfort ranging from a stinging sensation to moderate pain. Just like any blood test, your healthcare provider will draw blood after sterilizing the site with an antiseptic before inserting a small needle directly into a vein. The pain at the initial puncture goes away quickly. Once the blood is collected, the healthcare provider removes the needle, and you can perform your regular work
Risk Factors After Titer Test
In extremely rare cases there are some risks that can include the following:
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Bruising that may take time to heal
- Pain
- Infection
- Excessive bleeding
- Multiple punctures at the site when a vein is hard to locate
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Test Results
Abnormal antibody titer test results may indicate severe health disorders such as:
- Meningitis
- Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
- Inflammation of the membranes covering your brain and spinal cord
- Diphtheria
- Infection from helicobacter pylori bacteria
- Chickenpox
- Mononucleosis
- Hepatitis
How Should I Prepare For The Test?
While no special preparation is needed for this test in general, people receiving chemotherapy may have a decrease in antibody levels. Therefore, if the patient has recently undergone or is undergoing chemotherapy, he or she must tell the doctor about his medications, dietary supplements, and other things before the titer test is performed.
