Titer Testing – Can Assist in Avoiding Core Vaccine Over Vaccination

Although all veterinarians agree vaccines are necessary, the frequency in which they’re given is debated. Vaccines are largely safe, and are intended to improve the health and welfare of animals, but when side effects from vaccines do occur and the animal didn’t even need the vaccine that may cause problems.

It is known that dogs, after vaccination, often maintain protective antibody to the core diseases Canine Hepatitis Parvovirus and Distemper for three or more years. Numerous experimental studies support this observation.
Therefore the dilemma is if we know that we may not need to revaccinate our pets, how do we know that the antibody levels of our pets through vaccination are adequate?

Titer Testing to Determine Duration of Immunity (DOI):
Duration of immunity refers to the length of time an animal is able to resist disease.

Antibody tests can be used to demonstrate the DOI after vaccination with core vaccines. Therefore, when antibody is present there should not be a need to revaccinate the dog for the specific disease being tested. If antibody titer is absent, the dog should be revaccinated unless there is a medical basis for not so doing.

Currently a significant drawback in performing antibody tests is the cost and the time to obtain results. More often than not, titer testing requires sending blood or serum to a lab which entails a relatively expensive test, with an answer from the lab obtained some days later. For many years a rapid and cost-effective test has been required.

A Concept Change in Titer Testing: 
The Canine VacciCheck is a test that is rapid, simple, reliable and cost-effective antibody test useful to determine if a dog requires additional vaccination. This may save the dog unnecessary vaccination. It can also help determine the vaccination status of a dog with unknown vaccination history or help determine if puppies or kittens have received immunity from vaccination. 

What is also unique about the VacciCheck is that its test provides a simultaneous result developed for all three 3 core vaccines per test. This should prove useful for the veterinary clinic, shelter or the veterinary lab alike. Results are received within 20 minutes.
Practitioners therefore have a quick and simple in-office test that can be performed at a reasonable cost to the pet owner.

In the past, even though there was an intention by many pet owners and /or veterinarians to carry out titer testing for core vaccines instead of automatically revaccinating, the price of a titer test when compared to a vaccination was often significantly more expensive. Therefore, with a price factor lessened, via the use of VacciCheck, the concept should be that instead of
sending reminder cards for vaccines, veterinarians should be sending ‘annual health check’ reminders.

The ‘annual health check’ removes the emphasis from, and client expectation of, annual revaccination.

Many practitioners and owners want an assurance that an animal does have immunity. An antibody test such as the VacciCheck can give them that assurance.
 

For more info: US Residents: vaccicheck.com

Canadian Residents: aventix.ca