Antibody studies

The vaccine immunology laboratory determines antibody concentrations from serum samples as a paid service. Five different tests are available for measuring the concentration of antibodies for pneumococcal polysaccharide, pneumococcal conjugate, tetanus, diphtheria and Hib vaccines.

Measuring the vaccine response to a diphtheria, tetanus, and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is used in immunodeficiency diagnostics. To examine vaccine responses, IgG class antibody concentrations are determined from a serum sample before and after vaccination.

Antibody testing is performed using fluorescent multiplexed bead-based immunoassay (FMIA). A single sample can be used to simultaneously measure the concentration of antibodies for several different antigens.

In this section

• Shipping samples
• Instructions for selecting pneumococcal antibody assays
• Interpretation of vaccine responses and identification of immunodeficiencies

Available tests 

6297 S-SpnAbVT test

• The test assays for antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 4, 5, 7F, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F
• The analysed serotypes are included in both conjugate vaccines (Prevenar, Synflorix) and polysaccharide vaccines (Pneumovax)
• Suitable for measuring the response of a polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax) when the research subject has received a polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax) but not a conjugate vaccine (Prevenar, Synflorix)
• Also suitable for measuring conjugate vaccine response
• Accredited testing method
• Price EUR 101.86 (excluding VAT)

6296 S-SpnAbNV test

• The test assays for antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 2, 8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 17F, 20 and 33F
• The analysed serotypes are only included in the polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax). 
• Suitable for measuring the response of a polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax) when the research subject has previously received a conjugate vaccine (Prevenar, Synflorix)
• Accredited testing method
• Price EUR 100.92 (excluding VAT)

3585 S-HibAb test

• The test assays for antibodies to polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type b.
• Suitable for measuring response when the test subject has received a Hib or 5-in-1 (DTAP-IPV-Hib) vaccine.
• Accredited testing method
• Price EUR 71.96 (excluding VAT)

1253 S-CodiAb test

• The test assays for antibodies to diphtheria toxoid from Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
• Suitable for measuring response when the test subject has received a DT, dtap, DTaP-IPV or DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine.
• Accredited testing method
• Price EUR 29.46 (excluding VAT)

2738 S-ClteAb test

• The test assays for antibodies to tetanus toxoid from Clostridium tetani.
• Suitable for measuring response when the test subject has received a DT, dtap, DTaP-IPV or DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine.
• Accredited testing method
• Price EUR 29.46 (excluding VAT)

Other testing services of the vaccine immunology laboratory

The vaccine immunology laboratory also conducts antibody and cell-mediated immunity testing in cooperation with university research groups and companies. 

Enquiries on research cooperation:
Contact persons by theme 

Key immunity testing methods

Antibody concentration measurements

• Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule polysaccharide antibodies serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19A, 19F, 20, 23F, 33F [1].
• Haemophilus influenzae type b capsule polysaccharide antibodies
• Corynebacterium diphtheriae toxoid antibodies
• Clostridium tetani toxoid antibodies
• We can also develop other antibody measurement methods for research purposes [2]

Measuring antibody functions

• Measurement of serum opsonophagocytic activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae using multiplex opsonophagocytosis assay (MOPA) [3]

Cell-mediated immune response testing

• Cell isolation from fresh blood samples: separation of mononuclear cells from peripheral blood, separation of T cells.
• Cell stimulation and cytokine response measurement [4]

References

1. Timby N, Hernell O, Vaarala O, Melin M, Lönnerdal B, Domellöf M. Infections in infants fed formula supplemented with bovine milk fat globule membranes. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2015 Mar;60(3):384–9. 
Infections in infants fed formula supplemented with bovine milk fat globule membranes (PubMed)
 
2. Andrade DC, Borges IC, Laitinen H, Ekström N, Adrian PV, Meinke A, Barral A, Nascimento-Carvalho CM, Käyhty H.  A fluorescent multiplexed bead-based immunoassay (FMIA) for quantitation of IgG against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis protein antigens. J Immunol Methods. 2014 Mar;405:130–43.
A fluorescent multiplexed bead-based immunoassay (FMIA) for quantitation of IgG against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis protein antigens (PubMed)
 
3. Simell B, Vuorela A, Ekström N, Palmu A, Reunanen A, Meri S, Käyhty H, Väkeväinen M. Aging reduces the functionality of anti-pneumococcal antibodies and the killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae by neutrophil phagocytosis. Vaccine. 2011 Feb 24;29(10):1929–34.
Aging reduces the functionality of anti-pneumococcal antibodies and the killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae by neutrophil phagocytosis (PubMed)
 
4. Hafrén L, Einarsdottir E, Kentala E, Hammarén-Malmi S, Bhutta MF, MacArthur CJ, Wilmot B, Casselbrant M, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Mandel EM, Vaarala O, Kallio A, Melin M, Nieminen JK, Leinonen E, Kere J, Mattila PS. Predisposition to Childhood Otitis Media and Genetic Polymorphisms within the Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Locus. PLoS One. 2015 Jul 15;10(7):e0132551.
Predisposition to Childhood Otitis Media and Genetic Polymorphisms within the Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Locus (PubMed)