Titer conversion from decimals, anyone???

[Pyr2]

Hi everyone, I notice most of you talk in titers, i.e. 1:256 or thousands, 2560. Does anyone know how to convert a decimal result? So would 2.5 be 2500? Thanks, I can't seem to get an answer on this and that's what my lab uses (decimals).

L

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Hi everyone, I notice most of you talk in titers, i.e. 1:256 or thousands, 2560. Does anyone know how to convert a decimal result? So would 2.5 be 2500? Thanks, I can't seem to get an answer on this and that's what my lab uses (decimals).

L

2.5 does not sound like a titre. A titre is a dilution that gives a positive result. So 1:256 means that you get a positive result even with diluting 256 times. A lot of tests reported with titres are also reported in terms of units of strength - using a different method for measuring the result that gives a quantity rather than a positive or negative.

In general you cannot compare one scale of result with another - not even for titres. So a titre of 1:256 in one lab does not mean a titre of 1:256 in another lab - it might be 1:64 or 1:100. It may be easier to answer if we know what the test is.

 

[Pyr2]

Thanks Jonathan. I was looking at VCA IgG and EBV-EA D. Mine are 3.93 and 3.30 respectively.

I was reading a study where the individual was over quoted as over 5000 for VCA IgG, and had a EBV-EA of 1:640.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

I don't think you can make any comparison. Each lab has a different scale. Your results look like ELISA measurements, which do not compare to titres in any direct way.

 

[Ema]

Thanks Jonathan. I was looking at VCA IgG and EBV-EA D. Mine are 3.93 and 3.30 respectively.

I was reading a study where the individual was over quoted as over 5000 for VCA IgG, and had a EBV-EA of 1:640.

You can't compare the two because the testing methodology is totally different.

Titer testing uses serial dilution.

ELISA testing produces a number such as you describe.

Labcorp does both types of testing though.