This is usually taken from a vein on the forearm or hand. First, the skin over the vein is cleaned. Next, a strong rubber tube, or tourniquet, is wrapped around the upper arm. This enlarges the veins in the lower arm by restricting blood flow through them. A fine needle is gently inserted into the chosen vein and the tourniquet is removed.
Blood flows from the vein through the needle.
It is collected in a syringe or vial for testing in the lab. After the needle is withdrawn, the puncture site is covered for a short time to prevent bleeding. No preparation is generally needed for an antibody titer. The meaning of the results depends on why the test was done. Knowing the exact type of antibody can often help determine which disease is present.