Pertussis Antibody Test

Antibodies for pertussis typically take several weeks to develop after infection or vaccination.
 

This antibody test is not used for detection of active infections. If you suspect recent exposure or infection, consult your healthcare provider for appropriate testing and treatment options.

After getting a Tdap vaccine, the protection it provides against pertussis (whooping cough) may not last forever. While it varies from person to person, research suggests that immunity often starts to fade within 5 to 10 years.³
 

If it’s been a while since your last Tdap shot or you’ve been exposed to someone with whooping cough, a pertussis antibody test can help check whether your body still has detectable antibodies.
 

Note: This test is not intended for individuals experiencing symptoms or looking to confirm an active infection or immunity. If you have symptoms of whooping cough, you should contact your healthcare provider for an evaluation. 

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is highly contagious and spreads easily from person to person. An infected person is most contagious during the early stages of the illness, often before they even realize they have whooping cough. Here's how it typically spreads⁴:
 

• Airborne droplets: The bacteria that cause whooping cough are primarily spread through tiny droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes
• Close contact: Being in close proximity to an infected person, especially in enclosed spaces, increases the risk of transmission
   

Without treatment, an infected person can be contagious for up to three weeks after the coughing fits begin.
 

To prevent the spread of whooping cough, it's important to practice good hygiene, such as covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, washing your hands frequently, and staying home when you're sick. Vaccination is a crucial preventive measure against whooping cough for yourself and others.

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.