Antibody Serology Tests
Reviewed
Also called: antibody titer test, antibody test, antibody serum test
Antibody serology tests look for specific antibodies in your blood. Your results will depend on which antibodies were measured.
Specimen: Blood
Why this test may be ordered
- To find out if you've had a recent or past infection.
- To check your vaccination status.
- To find out if a vaccine is effective.
- As a requirement for your school or job.
- To find out if you have an autoimmune disease, such as lupus.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for an antibody serology test.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. There may be slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Understanding results
Results may be given as titers (levels of antibodies), positive (you have antibodies), or negative (you do not have antibodies).
- Antibodies to a specific pathogen found: Antibodies to a specific pathogen were found. This may mean you had an infection before. It could also mean you've been vaccinated against a certain disease. Limitation: While antibody serology tests can show that you have an immune response to a pathogen, they cannot show if you have full protection from it or how long that protection lasts. Next step: Talk to your provider about what these results mean.
- Low levels of certain antibodies: Low levels of certain antibodies were found. This may mean an earlier vaccination does not provide you with enough protection against a disease. Limitation: It may take a few weeks for your body to make antibodies after you have had an infection, been exposed to a pathogen, or had a vaccine. Next step: It also means you may need a booster shot.
- Autoantibodies found: Autoantibodies are a type of antibody that attacks healthy cells by mistake. Limitation: An antibody serology test may also detect autoantibodies. Next step: If they're present in your antibody serology test results, your provider may order separate autoantibody tests to determine if you have an autoimmune disease.
- Cannot show if the antibodies are from a current or past infection or from a vaccination.
- Cannot show if you have full protection from a disease or how long protection lasts.
- These tests are not used to diagnose diseases such as measles, mumps, chickenpox, shingles, hepatitis, or mononucleosis.
- There is very little risk to having a blood test; slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in may occur, but most symptoms go away quickly.
What to do next
Results for antibody serology tests that look for monoclonal antibodies depend on the type of treatment you are receiving. Talk to your provider about what these results mean.
- Why is my provider ordering this test?
- What do my specific antibody results mean for my health?
- Do I need any follow-up tests or booster shots based on these results?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.