Checking titres?

[MittensKittens]

I'd be interested in checking titres for VPD's in my unvaxed kids. What do I need to know about this? There are plenty of private labs around here
(Eastern Europe) but vaccinating is pretty much compulsory. Do I explain what I want to do it for, or just ask for the tests? How do you read the results? Anything else I need to know?

TIA

[Marnica]

I would just ask for the tests. If it is something you are paying for out of your pocket it is none of their business what you want the tests done for, unless they need to be ordered via prescription or something....dopn't know how it works there. As for reading the results you would ned to look up what the "acceptable" levels of antibodies are to each disease in terms of what "they" deem a level that would indicate immunity.

here is a few things I found:

Measles : immunoglobulin G (IgG) level ≥320 mIU/mL.

Mumps: protective antibody level to mumps has not been defined

Rubella: 10 IU/mL


D&T:

There is some controversy regarding appropriate reference protective antibody levels. A minimum protective titer of 0.01 IU/mL for both diphtheria and tetanus is usually acceptable, although some support the use of the higher level of 0.1 IU/mL.25 Protection against diphtheria improves as antibody titer rises above 0.01 IU/mL, suggesting that the higher level is a safer protective target.26

Pertussis: “

there are no accepted protective pertussis antibody levels”

[Gitti]

Why?

Because if it is for you to know whether your kids are immune, this is not a reliable test at all.

[bedheadmaestro]

Well, I don't know anything about Eastern Europe, but if is only for your personal knowledge and doesn't actually save you from getting shots, I wouldn't do it. It is expensive!
However, having titers checked can get you out of some shots here in the US in some areas (in Maryland, anyway). I'm surprised more people don't do this if it is available to them.

Who cares if titer tests are valid, if the government accepts them as proof of immunity? I intend to ask my ped for titer tests for polio, MMR, hepatitis B, and varicella and when I am refused, I'm going to go to Dr. Tenpenny's website:

http://drtenpenny.com/titer.aspx

and order the titers myself. It says right on the MD vax schedule that positive immunity titers are accepted in lieu of vaccines for polio, MMR, varicella, and hep B. Hopefully, by doing this I can save my DD six shots. I figure she will get one dose of each vaccine, and titers from then on.

I would like to know if this approach has worked for anyone?

They usually check dogs' immunity titers before giving them annual vaccinations, I can't believe we don't afford our children the same!

[Marnica]

They usually check dogs' immunity titers before giving them annual vaccinations, I can't believe we don't afford our children the same!

This have never been the case ant any of the vets I have taken my animals to! We don't vaccinate them at all anymore, but when we did, titres were never checked. It was it's time for your dogs/cats shots...bring them in!

[MittensKittens]

Thank you for your replies - I want the tests done primarily for me to know the results, and secondarily so that I will have something to provide to authorities in the case I ever get accused of medical negligence for not vaxing. I had some nasty issues after my UC, including questions about not vaxing. I figure that testing titres will show that I am different from, concretely, the gypsy population here, who UC and don't vax, and don't send their kids to public schools. I want to do all of the above, without facing any issues with CPS.

That link was very useful actually, I might print that out to take to the lab because I have no idea what all of the diseases are called in the local language, but I am sure they understand if I bring that list .

[MittensKittens]

Oh, and what do these tests cost in the US approximately - just curious?

[MittensKittens]

And I know I don't need to worry about checking for pertussis, since we have already had it.

[bedheadmaestro]

Originally Posted by MittensKittens

Oh, and what do these tests cost in the US approximately - just curious?

all the titers I listed together are around $500. The retail prices listed on that website I posted are much higher. I hope they are covered by insurance, but it's worth it to me if they are not. Sorry to hijack your thread by the way.
Checking titers for your reason sounds pretty valid...you could point out that some states in the US accept titers as proof of immunity....

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by bedheadmaestro

all the titers I listed together are around $500.

:

Oh well... I will let you know what the costs are over here, but after having to pay for a DNA test to prove I am my son's mother because I had a UC and no witnesses at the actual birth, I know already that it is expensive to be outside of the mainstream :.