Verify your protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
Tetanus and diphtheria are serious bacterial infections that can be prevented through vaccination. Tdap vaccines are typically recommended for adults to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis infections. Knowing your immunity status is crucial for protecting yourself and others from these harmful diseases.
This test measures the levels of tetanus and diphtheria antibodies in your blood to determine protective status following vaccination. If you're interested in checking for pertussis (whooping cough) antibodies, Labcorp OnDemand offers a convenient Pertussis Antibody Test as well.
Note: This test is used to detect the presence of tetanus and diphtheria antibodies and is not intended for individuals experiencing symptoms or confirming an active infection.
Preparation: No special preparation is needed.
Antibodies produced by the immune system in response to tetanus vaccination.
Antibodies produced by the immune system in response to diphtheria vaccination.
If you're unsure about your vaccination history or when you last received a tetanus and diphtheria booster, this test can help check for antibodies and determine if you have adequate protection. Antibody levels may decrease over time, especially in older adults. Knowing your antibody levels can help you and your healthcare provider decide if a booster is needed.
Activities like gardening, farming or construction can increase your risk of tetanus. If you engage in these activities or plan to travel to areas with limited medical care, knowing your immunity status may help you decide if a booster is necessary.
While this test focuses specifically on tetanus and diphtheria antibodies, a full picture of Tdap antibodies includes a Pertussis Antibody Test. Together, these tests can provide a more comprehensive picture of your antibody status for all three components of the Tdap vaccine.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) Vaccine: What you need to know. Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. Updated Feb. 28, 2025. Access September 8, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/current-vis/tdap.html
<p>1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) Vaccine: What you need to know. Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. Updated Feb. 28, 2025. Access September 8, 2025. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/current-vis/tdap.html" target="_blank" title="tdap" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/current-vis/tdap.html</a></p>
Simply purchase this test online. A healthcare provider will review and approve your test requests; no healthcare provider visit is required.
Visit a Labcorp location near you for sample collection. Visits may be scheduled online.
View your easy-to-read results online in your Labcorp Patient™ account, including Linked Accounts. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.
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A tetanus and diphtheria antibody test measures the amount of antibodies in the blood. This test can help determine if your body is protected against these diseases.
If your antibody levels are high enough, it may suggest you are still protected. If your antibodies are low, your healthcare provider might recommend a booster vaccine to help the body make more antibodies to stay protected.
Always talk to your provider to understand what your results mean for you.
No, the Tdap vaccine does not provide lifetime immunity. It is thought that protection fades over time, which is why booster shots are generally recommended every 10 years for adults, and sometimes more often for people at higher risk.1
This test may be helpful for:
After receiving a tetanus and diphtheria vaccination or booster shot, it typically takes about 2 to 4 weeks for your body to make detectable antibodies.
Factors that affect timing may include:
It's important to note that while antibodies may be detectable within a few weeks, it can take up to 6-8 weeks to reach peak levels of protection. This antibody test is not used for detection of infection.
Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.
Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also made available through a secure portal to the independent healthcare provider who placed your test order. If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient™ account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, and/or federal health authority; for example, many states require the testing laboratory and physician to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, to local or state health departments.
If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Visit the Labcorp OnDemand® website to browse and purchase laboratory tests and create your Labcorp Patient™ account to view your results. All Labcorp OnDemand testing requires an order from an authorized healthcare professional. For your convenience, Labcorp OnDemand has contracted with independent professional entities (collectively, Providers) to deliver healthcare provider services. Visit a Labcorp location for sample collection; or, if using an at-home collection kit, collect your sample yourself. We’ll let you know when your results are ready and can be accessed through your Labcorp Patient™ account.
To align with clinical best practices, we’ve set an age maximum of 100 for consumer-initiated testing. This limit was set to encourage individuals in more advanced age groups - who may have complex medical needs - to receive personalized guidance about testing from their healthcare providers.
