Meningococcal Antibodies
Private Meningococcal Antibodies testing in London for £159.99, assessing one immunity marker with specialist results in around 5 weeks.
Turnaround time
5 weeks
Biomarkers count
1
Book your test
Choose Service Type
Professional phlebotomist comes to you
+ £{{ home_visit_fee }}
Visit our clinic for your test
{{ clinic_visit_fee > 0 ? '+ £' + clinic_visit_fee : 'Free' }}
Home Visit Details
Home visits require at least 24 hours notice.
Select a clinic: Sorting by distance…
{{ clinicAddress(clinic) }}
{{ clinicAddress(selectedClinic) }}
Select a date
Select an hour
Available time slots: {{ timeSlots.length}}
Overview of the Meningococcal Antibodies Test
The Meningococcal Antibodies blood test measures antibodies associated with Neisseria meningitidis, the bacterium responsible for meningococcal disease.
The test assesses 1 specialist antibody marker: Meningococcal Abs.
Neisseria meningitidis can cause meningitis and septicaemia and, when invasive disease occurs, illness can progress rapidly.
Antibody testing has a very different role from the tests used to diagnose an active meningococcal infection.
Meningococcal Antibodies are generally measured where information about immune response or vaccine-related antibody status is required.
Several meningococcal serogroups exist, and different vaccines target different combinations of these serogroups.
For that reason, the exact meaning of an antibody result depends on the laboratory method, the meningococcal antigens assessed, the vaccine previously received and the timing of the blood sample.
Within specialist immunology, vaccine-specific antibodies can also be useful when evaluating functional humoral immunity.
A person can have broadly normal total Immunoglobulin concentrations while still having an inadequate response to selected vaccine antigens.
Meningococcal antibody measurement may therefore be considered alongside Haemophilus B Influenzae Antibodies, Tetanus Antibody and Streptococcus Pneumoniae IgG 23 Serotypes during selected immune investigations.
There is no single universal protective number that can be applied to every meningococcal antibody assay.
The laboratory-specific interpretation and the clinical reason for testing should take priority.
What Does the Meningococcal Antibodies Test Check?
The test measures meningococcal antibody response according to the specialist assay used and can contribute to assessment of vaccine-related immunity or functional antibody production. This test measures 1 specialist biomarker.
Meningococcal Abs
Measures antibodies associated with Neisseria meningitidis using the laboratory's specialist assay, supporting assessment of meningococcal immune response in the appropriate clinical context.
Who May Benefit From the Meningococcal Antibodies Test?
Meningococcal antibody testing is principally a specialist immunity or vaccine-response investigation rather than a general infection screen.
People undergoing specialist assessment of vaccine response - Meningococcal antibodies can provide information about the immune response generated after vaccination.
People with recurrent or unusually severe bacterial infections - Vaccine-specific antibodies can form part of a broader functional immune assessment.
People with suspected antibody deficiency - Antigen-specific responses may be assessed even where total Immunoglobulin concentrations are not profoundly reduced.
People with an unclear vaccination history - Specialist testing may occasionally be useful where immune status needs to be assessed.
People with a previous low meningococcal antibody result - Repeat testing can help evaluate change where directed by an immunologist.
People undergoing investigation of impaired humoral immunity - Results may be combined with Pneumococcal, Hib and Tetanus antibody responses.
People with conditions or treatment that can affect immune function - Specialist assessment can include vaccine-response testing where clinically appropriate.
People under the care of a clinical immunologist - Meningococcal antibodies may form one part of a structured immune-function assessment.
How to Prepare
Do not arrange vaccination or alter immunosuppressive treatment simply to change the result unless this forms part of a specialist-directed vaccine-response assessment.
The timing between vaccination and antibody measurement can be important.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Meningococcal Antibodies Test
Low meningococcal antibody concentrations do not produce a specific symptom pattern. Testing is usually prompted by vaccination history, recurrent infection or specialist immune investigation.
Recurrent serious bacterial infections - Repeated infections can prompt investigation of functional antibody production.
Poor vaccine responses identified previously - Additional vaccine-specific antibody measurements may help characterise the pattern.
A history of unusual or invasive bacterial infection - Specialist immunology review may assess whether immune function requires further investigation.
Known or suspected immunodeficiency - Vaccine responses can provide functional information beyond total Immunoglobulin concentrations.
Previous low antigen-specific antibodies - Repeat measurement may be useful after a clinician-directed vaccination challenge.
An unclear response to meningococcal vaccination - Specialist serological testing can sometimes provide additional information.
The need for wider functional antibody testing - Meningococcal results can be considered alongside Hib, Tetanus and Pneumococcal antibody measurements.
This test does not diagnose active meningococcal meningitis or septicaemia.
A non-blanching rash, severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, marked drowsiness, rapidly worsening illness, breathing difficulty or suspected meningococcal sepsis requires immediate emergency medical assessment.
Do not wait for a private antibody test result where active meningococcal disease is suspected.
How to Book Your Meningococcal Antibodies Test
The Meningococcal Antibodies test can be booked privately for specialist assessment of meningococcal antibody response.
Choose the Meningococcal Antibodies
Select the individual Meningococcal Antibodies blood test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic blood draw or professional home or hotel phlebotomy where suitable.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the required venous blood sample and relevant vaccination information should be documented.
Laboratory analysis
Your serum undergoes specialist measurement of Meningococcal Abs.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside vaccination history and wider immune testing.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current live London Blood Tests page lists a turnaround of approximately 5 weeks after laboratory receipt for Meningococcal Antibodies.
This is a specialist antibody assay and may require referral laboratory processing.
The sample undergoes dedicated immunological analysis, laboratory quality-control procedures and authorisation.
Turnaround begins when the specimen reaches the laboratory rather than necessarily from the exact time of collection.
Where meningococcal antibodies form part of a pre- and post-vaccination immune assessment, the complete process can take longer because blood samples may intentionally be collected at different time points.
Understanding Your Results
assay used by the laboratory.
Interpretation depends on which serogroup antigens or functional antibody responses are being assessed.
The type of meningococcal vaccine previously received and the interval between vaccination and blood sampling are also important.
A lower result can indicate limited measurable antibody response within the assay.
It does not automatically diagnose an immunodeficiency.
A satisfactory result can demonstrate a measurable response to the antigen tested, but it does not prove that every part of the immune system is normal.
Where functional antibody deficiency is being investigated, clinicians may compare responses across several vaccine antigens.
This is why Pneumococcal Antibodies, Hib Antibodies, Tetanus Antibody and total Immunoglobulins can provide useful complementary information.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private access to specialist meningococcal antibody measurement for vaccine-response and immunology assessment.
Measures meningococcal antibodies - The test assesses the specialist Meningococcal Abs marker.
Useful in vaccine-response assessment - Results can provide information about the measurable antibody response following meningococcal vaccination.
Relevant to functional immunity investigation - Vaccine-specific antibodies can provide information beyond total Immunoglobulin concentrations.
Can complement other vaccine antibody tests - Hib, Tetanus and Pneumococcal antibody testing can broaden functional immune assessment.
Specialist laboratory analysis - Samples undergo dedicated meningococcal antibody measurement.
Clear specialist turnaround - Results are currently expected in approximately 5 weeks after laboratory receipt.
Professional blood collection - Clinic and suitable home or hotel phlebotomy appointments are available.
Clear pricing - The Meningococcal Antibodies test costs £159.99.
Private Meningococcal Antibodies Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Meningococcal Antibodies testing for people requiring specialist assessment of meningococcal antibody response or functional immunity.
The test costs £159.99 and measures 1 specialist antibody marker.
Results are expected approximately 5 weeks after laboratory receipt.
This is an immunity and vaccine-response investigation rather than a diagnostic test for active meningococcal meningitis or septicaemia.