Antibody Tests
A doctor checks the level of antibodies in blood with a series of laboratory tests that measure exposure to an antigen (a substance the body does not recognize). If a person’s antibody level is within a certain range, a person may have a condition that needs to be treated.
Antibody tests are also called antibody titers or serum antibody tests. A doctor checks antibody levels to determine if viruses, bacteria, chemicals or toxins have affected the body. The doctor can diagnose autoimmune conditions (where the body treats its own substances as foreign), blood transfusion or organ transplant rejections, allergies, genetic conditions, pregnancy or check the course of an condition or autoimmune process.
A doctor orders antibody tests for conditions such as HIV, diabetes, hepatitis C, malaria, lupus, cancer, thyroid problems and herpes. Tests for pregnant women and newborns are also routinely ordered to screen for serious conditions so they can be treated before the mother or newborn suffers complications.
Veterinarians frequently get antibody titer tests to check for viruses that may be transmitted to humans from animals. If a veterinarian’s rabies titer is in an upper level, he or she may need to have a rabies booster shot. Nervous system antibody tests help diagnose patients with symptoms such as inability to move the limbs, weakness, and twitching. Research is ongoing in the field to assess the use of these antibody tests for diagnostic purposes.
Blood is always checked for compatibility with antibody tests before a transfusion. Human blood has marker antigens on the red blood cell surfaces that determine blood type. Transfused blood must match between the donor and receiver, or the immune system will not recognize the new blood and destroy the transfused cells. A transfusion reaction can cause serious illness or even death.
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