Assay

Tetanus antibodies

Key Words

Tetanus antibodies, TETA

Specimen Collection

Serum (brown)

Turnaround time

21 days

This test is referred to another centre:                                                                                                                            

Department of Clinical Chemistry and Immunology                                                                                                                  

Level 4

Addenbrookes Hospital NHS Trust
Hills Road
Cambridge CB2 2QQ
Tel: 01223 217215
Fax: 01223 217794

Test indications

This trest is used to assess the T cell dependent antibody pathway. Patients should have this test done in the following clinical circumstances: 

a) Patients, especially children, with recurrent bacterial sepsis; particularly of the upper and lower respiratory tract.

b) Patients with invasive disease caused by encapsulated organisms.

c) Patients with selective antibody deficiency states and in monitoring immunoglobulin replacement therapy in such patients.

d) Immunological reconstitution following Bone Marrow Transplant.

e) Patients having haemoglobinopathies or who are due to undergo or who have had a splenectomy should have their levels of antibodies to encapsulated bacteria (i.e. pneumoccocal & Hib) monitored.                     

f) patients with radiographical evidence of bronchiectasis.

Knowledge of vaccine history is imperative for correct interpretation.  Specific clinical symptoms are also advantageous.  If a poor response if found, patients will be required to be vaccinated and retested 4 week post.  Specific interpretation is given for each patient result

Methodology

Enzyme immunoassay

Interferences

Contact referral centre

Reference Range

Minimum protective level 0.1 IU/mL

Optimum protective level >1.0 IU/mL

Analytical error

Contact referral centre

Reference change value

N/A