Vastaainetasot

Vastaainetasot, often translated as antibody titers, refer to the measurement of the concentration of specific antibodies in a serum sample. This measurement is crucial in various medical contexts, particularly in immunology and infectious disease diagnostics. A higher antibody titer indicates a greater amount of antibodies present, which can signify a recent infection, a successful vaccination, or an autoimmune condition. Conversely, a low or undetectable titer may suggest a lack of exposure to a particular antigen or a compromised immune response.

The process of determining an antibody titer typically involves serial dilutions of a serum sample. Each dilution is then tested against a known amount of the target antigen. The titer is expressed as the reciprocal of the highest dilution that still shows a detectable reaction, often indicated by agglutination, precipitation, or a color change in a laboratory assay. For instance, a titer of 1:100 means that antibodies were detected up to a dilution of 1 in 100.

In the context of infectious diseases, rising antibody titers over time, known as seroconversion, are strong indicators of an active or recent infection. This is often confirmed by comparing titers from acute and convalescent blood samples. For vaccines, antibody titers are used to assess the effectiveness of immunization and to determine if a booster dose is necessary to maintain immunity. In autoimmune diseases, high titers of autoantibodies, which target the body's own tissues, are characteristic of the condition.