Titer test

MinuteClinic® providers are trained to perform titer testing to confirm immunity. Your MinuteClinic® provider will review your medical and vaccination histories and order the appropriate lab tests. Upon receiving results, MinuteClinic® providers can follow up to review titer results and offer vaccination services if indicated.

1. Prior to scheduling your appointment, you may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:



If you made your appointment online:

Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.



If you made your appointment in the clinic:

Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.

4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.

5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

A titer test requires a blood draw, which is usually a fast, straightforward procedure. A MinuteClinic® provider can collect the sample for a titer test in just a few minutes. This involves inserting a small needle into a vein in your arm and withdrawing a sample of blood into a vial.

• Active immunity: This develops through vaccination or as a result of having had a previous infection. The body's immune system produces antibodies and cellular immunity, which generally lasts for years or a lifetime.
• Passive immunity: This is transferred, such as from mother to infant, or by blood products such as immune globulin. This type of immunity typically offers temporary protection lasting for a duration of weeks to months.

Schools, health care institutions or particular jobs may require proof of vaccination for specific infectious agents. There are two ways to verify immunization history:

• Vaccination records from health care providers: Confirm when, where and by whom certain vaccines were administered. 
• When these records are unavailable: Results of a blood titer test can provide the documentation that a school or workplace may need.

Titer test results can help you determine if:

• A vaccine has helped your immune system protect you against a specific disease
• An immunization triggered a strong enough response to protect against a specific disease
• You experienced a recent or past infection, such as mononucleosis or hepatitis
• You recently had or currently have an infection

Titer test results are usually available from the lab within a few business days. Times vary depending on location, so ask your MinuteClinic® provider how long you can expect to wait.

If your titers are positive, it may indicate you’ve already been exposed to a specific pathogen or may have received the vaccine for it. That means that you have adequate immunity to a particular infectious disease.
If titer results are negative, this means there is no immunity to a specific disease. Your school or work may require you to get a vaccination.

For illnesses such as chickenpox, measles and mumps, titer test results are usually considered valid regardless of when they were taken. Other antibody levels can drop over time, so your MinuteClinic® provider can suggest whether you need another test based on the medical concern.

Schools or workplaces may have their own titer testing requirements. For example, if your first test shows you don't have adequate immunity, you may need a second test after you've been vaccinated.