The USDA has approved the
Canine Vaccicheck Test kit. It's a test kit to check for antibodies for the three core vaccines. It will simultaneously check for Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, and Canine Distemper Virus. This test will allow the vet to do the test in- house and get the results in about 20 minutes. All vets should send out a card for a titer test rather than for administering unnecessary vaccines. The article does not state if the kits are being distributed as of yet???
Unfortunately this test does not take into account memory cells. A "titer" is a measurement of how much antibody to a certain virus (or other antigen) is circulating in the blood at that moment. A titer test does not and cannot measure immunity, because immunity to specific viruses is reliant not on antibodies, but on memory cells, which we have no way to measure. Memory cells are what prompt the immune system to create antibodies and dispatch them to an infection caused by the virus it "remembers." Memory cells don't need "reminders" in the form of re-vaccination to keep producing antibodies.
But this is a great test to see if the pup responded well to a vaccine. It will also be beneficial to check the status of a stray or lost dog. Dr. Schultz also seems to be on board for this test.
The Spectrum Group(Tempe, AZ) Partners With Biogal-Galed Labs to Distribute Canine VacciCheck?... -- TEMPE, Arizona, April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Biogal Home - Veterinary Supplies | Antibody Tests Vet Kits | Tools for Veterinary Diagnosis