Can Blood Tests Confirm Your Childhood Vaccinations?

Introduction

Immunization has often been a challenge especially for individuals who are from countries outside of the USA and sometimes within the USA. It is difficult to track what vaccines have been administered to individuals if they do not have their immunization records. This led to a need to re-evaluate a person’s immunity. Childhood vaccination records are important to determine when a person was vaccinated and what type of vaccine they had.

Antibody tests can be administered to anyone who needs to know if they are immune to specific diseases. The test checks for the level of antibodies that are in a person’s blood. If the antibodies are above a certain measured threshold the person either has had the vaccine or has been exposed to the disease.

Can a Blood Test Confirm Your Childhood Vaccinations?

Blood tests can confirm a person’s immunity. It is the most reliable way to check a person’s immunity to a disease.

Antibody titers is a protein that is created by the body. These proteins help the body ward off pathogens as it destroys toxins or disease carrying pathogens. The process of finding out if a person is immune to a disease is to conduct a blood test called a titer.

Although the blood tests indicate a person’s immunity to a disease, it does not necessarily define their childhood vaccination records.

What Is a Vaccine Titer Test?

Immunity to a disease can be active or passive.

Active immunity occurs when a person has had a vaccine or has been exposed to a pathogen which in turn produces antibodies to the pathogen. This can happen through an infection of the pathogen or through a vaccine. Active immunity will create immunity in the person over a longer period.

Passive Immunity occurs when a person is administered a vaccine to create immunity in the body. This is an important distinction to active immunity as it creates immediate immunity in a person. However, it may not last as long as a passive immunity. Titers will help check future immunity to the disease.

What Can a Blood Test Tell You About Childhood Vaccinations?

Titers will indicate the level of positive or negative results to a disease like Meiselas, Mumps, Rubella, Tuberculosis and other diseases.

Titer tests are performed to determine if a person has been exposed to an antigen. At times a provider may request a titer to check the level of immunity if a person / child has had diseases like chickenpox or measles.

Antibody tests can indicate the following in children:

• Recent or past immunity to an infection
• A check for schools, academic organizations that vaccines are up to date.
• Test how immune a person is to other diseases like lupus and autoimmune disorders.
• How immune a person is to a specific disease
• Does a person require a booster to a specific disease
• Did the person have a past infection

Antibody tests cannot determine the following:

• It cannot determine when and where a person obtained a booster if they cannot produce records.
• The type of vaccine brand was used in the event there is a positive result.
• The number of vaccines doses that were administered in childhood.

Blood tests are an important and accurate way to determine immunity to some of the common childhood diseases. SmarTest Labs can assist with the selection of the right test for each person.

Which Childhood Vaccines Can Be Checked with a Blood Test?

Some of the common vaccines that provide immunity to disease especially when administered in childhood are as follows:

Vaccine / Disease	Antibody Test Available?	What It May Help Assess
Measles	Yes	Evidence of measles immunity
Mumps	Yes	Evidence of mumps immunity
Rubella	Yes	Evidence of rubella immunity
Varicella	Yes	Evidence of chickenpox/varicella immunity
Hepatitis B	Yes	Hepatitis B immunity
MMR	Yes	Immunity to measles, mumps and rubella

A Titer test (blood Draw) will provide the way to determine if a person has the antibodies in their system.

Without these vaccines each of these diseases can cause the following symptoms:

Measles

• Measles requires a blood sample, (titer test) urine, nasal aspirate, throat sample or cheek sample.
• It manifests with swelling of the glands.
• The virus is spread by droplets
• Vaccines provide protection

Rubella (German Measles)

• Spread through a viral infection e.g. coughs or sneezes
• Indicator is a low-grade fever and Sore Throat with a rash
• Vaccine will provide protection

Hepatitis B

• Dark colored urine
• Exhaustion
• Fever
• Nausea
• Aching joints
• Jaundice
• Vaccination prevents the disease

Varicella (chickenpox)

• Extremely contagious
• Person is contagious between 1 – t days before symptoms appear
• Manifests as an itchy rash, fever, exhaustion, loss of appetite
• Lasts for about 4 – 7 days
• Vaccination protects against the disease. Found most in children, infants, adults and individuals who are pregnant.

An Antibody test can determine the presence, absence or past infection of each of these diseases.

What If You Lost Your Childhood Vaccination Records?

Vaccination records are important to provide a historical view of your vaccines and the level of immunity to diseases.

Who can assist in finding your records

The best way to try and find missing vaccine records is to:

• Ask you parents or caregivers if they have copies of the vaccine records
• Check with your schools if they have copies. Schools only retain copies for two years.
• If you worked in the public forces like the military, they could have copies of your vaccine records.
• Check with your provider to see if he / she has a copy.
• Check with your health department to see if they have copies
• If you got your vaccines out of the United States, please work with your contacts in those countries to see if you can find copies of the records.
• Check with your pharmacies, community health clinics and even religious centers if they have copies of your vaccines.

Please note: These organizations are within the USA and if it is international, the donor could approach similar organizations in their respective countries to get vaccine records.

What if you cannot find your vaccine records?

In the event you cannot find your vaccination records, from your provider, there may be a need to conduct the level of immunity you have to each disease by administering a titer. Repeating vaccines is safer than getting the disease.

Is a Blood Test the Same as Proof of Vaccination?

No. Blood tests are conducted for many different reasons. If a person needs to find out if they have immunity for a certain specific disease, the blood test must specify the reason for the test and the type of test. A blood test must be done for a specific disease. The antibody for a specific disease varies with the disease. Further the cut off levels will for each disease.

Blood tests are done also for diseases such as CBC, blood sugar, thyroid functions, liver functions and many other diseases. These tests will be different to validate vaccination immunity to diseases like MMR, Varicella and Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B diseases.

Serology testing can provide proof if a child is immune to a specific disease.

Explain the difference between:

Proof of Vaccination

In the United States, proof of vaccination can be obtained easily by your healthcare provider by accessing the CDC web site. This site will provide you with the schedules of your vaccination, Expiration dates for boosters, guidelines, safety information and education material.

Proof of vaccination requires a document stating the various vaccines a person has obtained in the past. This helps define what vaccines are required for the future.

Proof of Immunity

Proof of immunity if it is unknown will require a titer to be done on the individual. A blood draw is the best method to define antibodies and immunity.

Antibody Titer

An antibody titer is the measure of the amount of antibody in a person’s body that recognizes an epitope. Entry into schools, hospitals, care facilities, travel and employment require proof of antibodies for diseases like Tuberculosis, Hepatitis A and B, MMR and Varicella.

When Should You Consider a Vaccine Titer Test?

Vaccine titer tests are best used in a couple of different scenarios.

When Your Childhood Vaccination Records Are Missing

Antibody testing is needed when a person is unsure if they have been vaccinated before or if they have been exposed to the pathogen and have natural immunity from the exposure.

Before College or Nursing School

Schools, Health care organizations often request proof of vaccination. If an individual cannot provide this, it is easy to get a titer to see where they are with immunity. Following a negative titer test, there should be consideration for a vaccine that can be provided to anyone requesting documentation of the test.

For Healthcare Workers

Health care workers are required to prove that they are vaccinated and able to provide validation that they are not infectious with diseases like Hepatitis A and B, Varicella, MMR. Antibody Titer tests help validate that a health care worker passes the requirements of a health care organization.

This is especially critical to stop the spread of the disease to patients who may be ill and more prone to picking up infections that could cause them complications.

Before International Travel

Many countries are requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination. This was clearly seen during the recent COVID pandemic. The best way to contain a spread of a disease is to vaccinate individuals against the disease.

Before Pregnancy or Pregnancy Planning

Women planning to get pregnant are highly recommended to get vaccinated against MMR. This ensures that the fetus is protected from getting the disease that can cause complications in the pregnancy and cause the child to be born with deformities. Health care providers remind women to be cognizant of their vaccination requirements.

When You Are Unsure Whether You Were Vaccinated

Many of us are sometimes unsure of our vaccine immunity. In situations where vaccine records are unavailable, the individual can get a titer that helps them determine if they are immune. Depending on the results and the advice of the provider, the individuals can decide if a vaccine should be administered.

SmarTest Labs located at a convenient location. Can assist and guide anyone through the necessary processes in titers, antibody tests and vaccines.

How Does a Vaccine Titer Blood Test Work?

Vaccine titers work by mocking an infection and stimulating the body’s defenses to the infection.  A blood draw from the individual tests the level of immunity a person has. This is a laboratory-based test.

The process requires a blood draw from a patient. The blood is then checked for the absence or presence of a disease pathogen in a laboratory setting. The sample is then checked for antibodies for each disease. Each disease will have a different cut-off threshold for falling into the category of positive, negative or borderline immunity.

What Do Vaccine Titer Test Results Mean?

Positive / Immune

If your IgG antibodies found in a titer shows that you have a level above the required threshold, then immunity to the disease is present. Your body will be able to react to an exposure to the disease. The immunity could have been achieved through vaccination, exposure in the past of both.

A positive immunity is accepted in schools, jobs, travel to foreign countries, and other organizations requiring immunity.

Although immunity is the best results to be able to address disease, a small group of people sometimes could be infected but the symptoms will be mild.

Equivocal / Borderline

If your titer result shows a level that cannot determine the level of antibodies, it falls in the borderline or equivocal level of antibody levels. This would mean that a person has no clear indicator of immunity to the disease. To solve this issue, a provider could request a re-test in a few weeks. Your provider will decide if a vaccine is required after the second test.

What Happens If Your Vaccine Titer Is Negative?

If a titer test returns a result that is negative, it does not mean that a person did not have immunity in the past. Some vaccines require boosters and scheduled vaccines follow-up that is timed. If a person is negative, it is wise to get vaccinated to avoid getting the disease.

Health care organizations are skilled and can assist a person determine their next steps depending on results from a titer. Further institutions vary is their requirements. It is best to gather what is required before approaching the Laboratories that can assist is administering the vaccines.

Contact SmarTest Labs for further questions and guidance on your vaccination requirements.

Can a Titer Test Replace Childhood Vaccination Records?

A titer test provides a person results at the time of the test. It does not necessarily replace a childhood vaccination record. Many vaccines are administered in doses at specific times and must be administered accordingly.

Even if an individual has had vaccination as a child, there are booster requirements for certain vaccines depending on the age of a child. TO prove immunity titers are the best way to demonstrate where a person is with their immunity to disease.

Most schools require documentation of vaccination. This also applies to employers and health care facilities. Health care facilities require a person to demonstrate immunity and may ask for further testing.

How Is Vaccine Titer Testing Done at SmarTest Labs?

SmarTest labs a CLIA certified laboratory provides guidance testing and recommendation for appropriate titer tests and vaccinations for various organizations.

SmarTest Labs will conduct the necessary vaccines depending on vaccination duration, time of required boosters, level of dosage of the required vaccines customized for each person. We will provide you with all the appropriate guidance during and after the testing is completed.

We service all the Maryland DMV areas, Virginia, WA DC and surrounding areas. We have a medical director on staff if questions arise and a patient requires guidance.

Why Choose SmarTest Labs for Antibody Testing?

SmarTest Labs a CLIA certified laboratory can provide on-site and mobile titer testing, vaccination and guidance for individuals and organizations on vaccination requirements. We can provide our services at the location of your organization.

We can be reached at 301-686-8566 or contact@smartestlabs.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blood test tell if I had childhood vaccines?

Yes, a blood test conducted specifically for a disease can provide information of a childhood vaccination and level of immunity.

Can a blood test confirm vaccination?

A blood test can confirm immunity to a disease. It does not verify if a vaccine was administered in the past. If the immunity is positive, the indication is either a vaccine was administered in the past or there was exposure to a disease.

H3: Can a titer test replace vaccination records?

Yes, Titer tests can replace vaccination records. Titers shows if the person has immunity and to a specific disease. Positive, Negative and Equivocal titers are a test that can replace a past vaccination record.

What blood test checks immunity to disease?

An antibody blood test check immunity to a disease.

What vaccines can be checked with a titer test?

The most common vaccines that can be checked at for diseases like MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A and B. Blood tests are also done for many other disease indicators like CBC, thyroid checks, diabetes checks.

Can I get a vaccine titer test if I lost my records?

Yes, you can. Please call SmarTest Labs for guidance on how to proceed.

Does a positive titer prove I was vaccinated?

A positive titer means a person is immune to a disease either through previous exposure or a vaccine.

What happens if my vaccine titer is negative?

If a vaccine titer is negative, it means a person does not have immunity to a specific disease.

Do colleges accept antibody titer tests?

Most colleges that require proof of vaccination will accept a titer test. However, if the titer is negative, they would require a vaccine to be administered.

Do healthcare employers accept titer tests?

Yes, health care employers accept titer test results. Depending on the results, the employer could request a vaccine or discuss other options with the person.

Is fasting required for an antibody titer test?

Fasting is not required for an antibody test.

How long does a vaccine titer test take?

The vaccine titer is a blood draw that takes ten to fifteen minutes to conduct. The results should be available within 2 business days.

Conclusion

SmarTest Labs is fully accredited CLIA laboratory. We conduct titer tests for large organizations, and we can provide guidance as necessary for each organization as each organization is unique.

Our titers check for antibodies to determine if a vaccine is needed. Once titers are completed, our staff will be able to guide you through the process of vaccination requirements. Although antibody tests do not tell you past exposure, it does validate if a person is immune to a disease. We can assist with this process including obtaining the relevant documentation.