What is a Vaccine Titer Test?
Antibody level is thought to be an indication of the body’s ability to defend against a disease. When a vaccine is given, the body builds up antibody protection to the disease for which the vaccine was given. Individual animals build up different levels of antibody protection and maintain these levels for different durations of time.

To determine the animal's antibody protection level, a blood sample is drawn and a specialized laboratory test is performed to measure the antibody protection level (titer) to a particular disease such as Canine Distemper and Canine Parvo Virus for dogs or Feline Distemper and Feline Leukemia for cats.

Titer Testing Concerns
A challenge test actually exposes the animal to the live virus that is being studied. To date, there have been very few vaccine titer challenge studies and the sample populations in these few studies have been very small. The results of these studies have not proven that a specific level of antibody protection always gives full protection from disease in all or even in most animals.

Vaccinations Versus Titer Tests
Vaccinations have been proven effective in the laboratory and in the field over decades of use in the general population. Vaccinations have been the key reason why fatal diseases such as Distemper have significantly declined in the general pet population. On the contrary, titer levels do not give that same level of confidence because of the lack of broad-based challenge studies and the lack of field use. Still, titers are a useful diagnostic tool.

When are Titer Tests Appropriate?
Some pets have life-threatening allergic reactions to vaccines. When pets have severe allergic reactions to vaccines it may be best to do annual titers to monitor the pet's antibody levels.

By testing titers annually, declines in antibody levels can be monitored. When antibodies drop to a level where protection against the disease is lost, pets can receive a booster vaccine to spike the antibody resistance levels. This allows us to vaccinate as needed for that individual which would probably be less frequently than once a year. Thus, that individual has a better chance of being protected it's whole life because the delayed spacing of the vaccine boosters will result in less frequent vaccine reactions.

Worse Case Scenario
If that same animal were to receive annual vaccines and if the vaccine reactions continued to become more severe each year, then there may come a time when it would not be possible to vaccinate without risking that animal’s life. Unfortunately, should this situation occur, the animal would also face the risk of a fatal disease as antibody protection levels naturally decline.

Other Reasons to Titer Test
Titers can also be useful if individuals do not produce good immunity levels from a vaccine. This can occur in Rottweilers. Titers can be used to determine at what age an individual has a good response to the vaccine and does not require additional vaccines in the series.

The Future of Titer Testing
Titers are more expensive than vaccines but provide an important diagnostic tool for vaccine sensitive animals.

In the future titers will be used more often as the relationship between antibody levels and protection is proven. Vaccines are necessary and they are effective weapons in protecting your pet from disease. At Maple Veterinary Hospital we use vaccines and titers based on your pet’s risk assessment to give your pet the safest and best protection from deadly diseases.

Rabies Titer Testing
Rabies titers can be performed but you cannot license your pet with just a titer result. Without challenge studies to prove that all individuals are protected at specific antibody levels Maple Veterinary Hospital recommends that all pets be vaccinated for Rabies on schedule.