Checking immunity before MMR booster

[star]

I wanted to have my sons immunity tested before giving him an MMR booster at the age of 4 and both my GP and a private clinic say these tests are not useful. They say they only give a figure for current immunity levels and don't show if memory cells have been produced so there is no guarantee that this imunity is long lasting.

 

Does anyone have experience of this? or could give me any advice of what to do regarding the booster?

 

Am abit confused as I have heard especially in the states that people base decisions to have a booster on immunity testing so someone must be doing it wrong!

 

thanks very much.

[Lynden]

My GP told me exactly the same. So I put it off for a bit, but then my son had suspected measles, so the GP involved the local Dept of Health (they have to) and they did blood tests and said that he was fully immune to measles. So either they can test, or they can't - no wonder us parents are confused!

 

Lynne x