Antibody Titer
Alternate Names : Serum Antibodies, Titer - Antibodies
Definition A test to measures the presence and amount of antibodies in blood against a particular type of tissue, cell, or substance.
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Why is the Test Performed?
The antibody level in the blood is a reflection of the body's past experience or exposure to an antigen, or something that the body does not recognize as belonging to itself. The body uses antibodies to attack and eliminate the foreign matter.
Every living cell has different protein markers on its surface. The body's immune system identifies those cells that are not part of itself by these surface proteins.
Occasionally, the body makes an error and begins to recognize its own tissue as being non-self, or foreign. This leads to an immune response against that tissue type, cell, or substance that is part of the body. This is known as autoimmunity.
Levels of antibodies in the blood (also known as the antibody titer) are measured to determine:
- the strength of an immune response to the body's own tissue in diseases such as SLE, and other autoimmune disorders.
- the need for a booster immunization, or if a recent administration caused a strong enough response from the immune system, bringing your antibody titer against a particular disease up to a preventative level.
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