Antibody Titer Testing Myth

Antibody titer testing has come to the fore since the vaccine protocols have reduced. These are blood tests that show whether your pet has antibodies against the diseases we vaccinate for. The idea being if your pet has good antibodies , they should have proper immunity. Pet owners are eager to have the blood test because they think that it's the substitute for the yearly vaccine. They'd rather have a test than an unnecessary . Without getting too much into the details I'd like to refer as I often do to folks smarter than I am. Dr.'s Ford and Wolf are two prominent internal medicine specialists who addressed this issue in a recent immunology bulletin. In it they asked; "What are the indications for performing antibody titers?" I quote "Veterinarians cite several reasons for performing antibody titers in individual patients. For example, owners who are particularly concerned about the potential for vaccine-induced injury may request titers in lieu of annual vaccination. Veterinarians who are reluctant to implement triennial vaccination recommendations for core vaccines may elect to submit serum for titers annually before administering a core vaccine. Conclusion Whether a practitioner administers booster vaccines annually or triennially, there are few indications for routinely substituting antibody titers for vaccination. Differences in test methodologies and vaccine types and the ability of the individual patient to mount a protective immune response are significant variables in defining the value of antibody titers in assessing vaccine response."
On the surface it seems a great alternative to vaccine and it would be a huge income boost to my hospital. However, I could not justify offering it on a routine basis to my clients after researching the scientific data and opinions of experts that I trust.