Titer tests are antibody blood tests that prove immunity or vaccination status of an individual. When a person has come into contact with an antigen, the body will create antibodies to defend itself from the unfamiliar contaminant. This concentration of antibodies is what titer blood tests measure. Titer tests are typically done when childhood immunization records are not available such as when a person immigrates into the US from a foreign country; but they are also performed for adults who are unaware of their immunization status. Many healthcare schools require titer tests for their students, as not being vaccinated to certain diseases can be deadly to immuno-compromised patients. Typically, titers are done to determine immunization status for the following:
Measles
Mumps (This group of three tests is called an “MMR”- for measles, mumps and rubella)
Rubella
Varicella- This checks for immunity to Varicella zoster, which is also known as human herpes virus 3 or HHV3
Hepatitis B – Hepatitis B is a very serious viral infection of the liver. This is very easy to spread via blood; in fact, Hepatitis B is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. Healthcare workers are wise to get vaccinated for Hepatitis B and it is required by some schools.
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