Doggie Titre Test in Spain (or Portugal)

[Lizbiebrowne]

Contemplating visiting Morocco next year so I'm thinking it might be a good idea to arrange titre tests for our two dogs, and get the results into their EU Pet Passport this year when we travel to Spain and Portugal for a couple of months in October and November. Can anyone recommend a vet who can arrange for the titre tests for a reasonable price?

Obviously, both our dogs have current rabies jabs but one will require a booster this year - am I right in thinking that the titre sample can't be taken until 30 days after the booster? As we're only away for 60 days will that make it a bit tight getting the samples taken and the test results back before we have to return to the UK?

 

[DBK]

As I understand it you need the titre test results for entry into Morocco and the titre test is done from a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the vaccination. How long it takes to get the result from the lab it is sent to I don't know but I guess it won't be super quick.

Of course the dog needing the booster might pass the test before the booster. If you want to visit Morocco you could take a gamble and get the titre test done, and the booster given, somewhere you are happy to wait around until the result comes in. If it fails you could then wait the 30 days after the booster and try again or decide to shelve the trip to the following year.

 

[vzac]

Recommendations for titer test result coming back usually stipulate 4 weeks plus.

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

As I understand it you need the titre test results for entry into Morocco and the titre test is done from a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the vaccination. How long it takes to get the result from the lab it is sent to I don't know but I guess it won't be super quick.

Of course the dog needing the booster might pass the test before the booster. If you want to visit Morocco you could take a gamble and get the titre test done, and the booster given, somewhere you are happy to wait around until the result comes in. If it fails you could then wait the 30 days after the booster and try again or decide to shelve the trip to the following year.

I understood you had to wait a minimum of 30 days after the booster but that doesn't really make sense. I can understand 30 days after the original inoculation to ensure there has been an appropriate immune response before the sample is taken but that wouldn't apply to the booster.

If it did just apply to the original jab then I could get the samples taken at the start of our holiday and would have 8 weeks for the test to be completed and the results entered into the PP's.

 

[DBK]

I understood you had to wait a minimum of 30 days after the booster but that doesn't really make sense. I can understand 30 days after the original inoculation to ensure there has been an appropriate immune response before the sample is taken but that wouldn't apply to the booster.

If it did just apply to the original jab then I could get the samples taken at the start of our holiday and would have 8 weeks for the test to be completed and the results entered into the PP's.

The dog is more likely to pass after the booster but it may have enough antibodies now remaining after the first vaccination to pass the test.

You could pay for a test now in the UK and see what the result is. You can't enter the result in the pet passport but it will give you an idea of your options. If it fails then you know you need to wait 30 days after the booster. If it passes with a good figure you may be in luck and get the titre test done before the booster.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

The dog is more likely to pass after the booster but it may have enough antibodies now remaining after the first vaccination to pass the test.

You could pay for a test now in the UK and see what the result is. You can't enter the result in the pet passport but it will give you an idea of your options. If it fails then you know you need to wait 30 days after the booster. If it passes with a good figure you may be in luck and get the titre test done before the booster.

Yes, we get the booster every two years so it’s not as though the dog will be nearly at the end of the three year period. It also occurred to me I could get the sample taken before the booster is given and then any 30 day booster rule would presumably not apply.

 

[DBK]

Yes, we get the booster every two years so it’s not as though the dog will be nearly at the end of the three year period. It also occurred to me I could get the sample taken before the booster is given and then any 30 day booster rule would presumably not apply.

I don't think there is any "booster rule". The dog just has to pass the titre test and given what you say if the rabies vaccine still has another year to go there is no requirement for a booster so you can get a titre test done before the booster is given.

The only snag I can see is the vet may not understand what you are doing and insist on a test 30 days after the booster.

It might be better to get the titre test done, wait for the result then, whatever the result, book the booster.

 

[gus-lopez]

off the top of my head I think I paid 150€ about 5 years ago for the titre test here for one dog which included the lab fee. Took about 3 weeks for the results.

 

[vzac]

Also be careful, for turkey anyway they will only accept annual rabies not the 3yr ones that are generally given in Western Europe. I would check what the rule is for Morocco.

 

[Razamataz]

The dog is more likely to pass after the booster but it may have enough antibodies now remaining after the first vaccination to pass the test.

You could pay for a test now in the UK and see what the result is. You can't enter the result in the pet passport but it will give you an idea of your options. If it fails then you know you need to wait 30 days after the booster. If it passes with a good figure you may be in luck and get the titre test done before the booster.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

Another thought is to give each dog a rabies booster in the UK, unreferenced in their EU Passports, about a month before we travel to Spain and then have the titre test sample taken on arrival in Spain. Not sure if 30 days is the optimal time to wait for maximum antibody titre post booster?

 

[DBK]

Another thought is to give each dog a rabies booster in the UK, unreferenced in their EU Passports, about a month before we travel to Spain and then have the titre test sample taken on arrival in Spain. Not sure if 30 days is the optimal time to wait for maximum antibody titre post booster?

That's a cunning plan - it should work I think but you could ask your vet when they think anti-bodies peak after vaccination.

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

That's a cunning plan - it should work I think but you could ask your vet when they think anti-bodies peak after vaccination.

This review suggests the maximum antibody titre occurs within 28 days of inoculation.

https://nasphv.org/Documents/NASPHVRabiesCompendium.pdf

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

I had my dog tested in Portugal in Feb, 146 euros I think it was and he failed dismally, 14 months in to a 3 year jab. The result was back in 8 days.

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

I had my dog tested in Portugal in Feb, 146 euros I think it was and he failed dismally, 14 months in to a 3 year jab. The result was back in 8 days.

Can you recommend the vet (apart from the result of course). The 8 day turnaround sounds good, they must send the sample to an efficient lab.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bill-H]

I thought there was a UK lab acredited by the EU for performing titre tests?

Designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests

The pre-entry rabies antibody titration test required for dogs, cats and ferrets entering the Union from a territory or a Non-EU country not listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 shall be performed in an approved rabies serology laboratory.

food.ec.europa.eu

Failing that, would it work out cheaper to pop over to Northern Ireland and get it done before your Morocco trip?

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

I thought there was a UK lab acredited by the EU for performing titre tests?

Designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests

The pre-entry rabies antibody titration test required for dogs, cats and ferrets entering the Union from a territory or a Non-EU country not listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 shall be performed in an approved rabies serology laboratory.

food.ec.europa.eu

I’m unclear how the titre result would find its way into the dog’s EU pet passport as I understand that UK vets cannot make entries in it without invalidating it (except in one very specific circumstance unrelated to rabies).

 

[Bill-H]

I’m unclear how the titre result would find its way into the dog’s EU pet passport as I understand that UK vets cannot make entries in it without invalidating it (except in one very specific circumstance unrelated to rabies).

I'm not sure either, but the EU passort says "I the undersigned confirm that I have seen an official record stating that the rabies antibody test performed at an EU approved lab etc.."
I read that to infer that an EU vet could sign to say they had seen the official result from an approved lab, so you could get the test done in a UK approved lab and the EU vet could look at the certificate and sign the passport.

 

[vzac]

What I was told by uk vet and greek vet the get my cats to turkey was
Get EU pet passport, ahc would not be accepted as we were crossing Europe, not going directly from UK to turkey.
Get rabies ( annual) they were not accept 3yr jab.
1month after rabies jab, take cat to vet for titer test ( this must be done in the country you are entering turkey from in my case ( EU). Wait for test to come back from lab upto a month. Vet signs it off you are then given the documents ( not written in the passport, may be it is now. ) then vet recommended 21 days before going into Turkey to allow the test to be registered and put on the EU system.

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Can you recommend the vet (apart from the result of course). The 8 day turnaround sounds good, they must send the sample to an efficient lab.

Albufeira Vets
They thought it would be longer but we were both pleasantly surprised.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Lizbiebrowne
Can't fault the vets, I got his passport there last year, had the titre test this year, not their fault he failed, and then got some tablets to calm him down a bit while travelling, 6 tablets for €6, very friendly and English speaking. Camping Albufeira is right next door or plenty of parking nearby.

 

[garry55]

We have just returned from Morocco. You can take your dog to Morocco without a titre test, but you can't bring it back to Spain / Europe without one. Morocco doesn't care if your dog has rabies but Spain does.
We got a rabies booster in France and 21 days later had the titre test done at Brulina Vets in Los Barrios. The test was done on a Monday and we got the results back on Friday of the same week, although we paid extra to fast track the results. Gave us a lot more time to spend in Morocco.

 

[gus-lopez]

they must send the sample to an efficient lab.

There is only one accredited laboratory in Portugal. In OEiras.
There are only two accredited labs in Spain. One in Gramnada one in Valencia

Albufeira Vets
They thought it would be longer but we were both pleasantly surprised.

list of approved EU labs that can supply accreidted titre tests

https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/m...ibody-titration-tests/eu-related-countries_en

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

There is only one accredited laboratory in Portugal. In OEiras.
There are only two accredited labs in Spain. One in Gramnada one in Valencia

list of approved EU labs that can supply accreidted titre tests

https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/m...ibody-titration-tests/eu-related-countries_en

There are a couple of UK laboratories that are approved by the EU to perform the rabies titre assay. A critical question for me is: will a vet in Spain complete the rabies titre information in an EU pet passport using the results from one of the approved UK laboratories that used a blood sample taken by a UK vet?

 

[Bill-H]

There are a couple of UK laboratories that are approved by the EU to perform the rabies titre assay. A critical question for me is: will a vet in Spain complete the rabies titre information in an EU pet passport using the results from one of the approved UK laboratories that used a blood sample taken by a UK vet?

Apart from the 2 labs in the UK, there are lots more around the world on the list who are acredited to do this for animals entering the EU, I assume they must enter the EU on an AHC, but still with an outside-of EU acredited lab certifying the Titre result. Garry55 (2 posts above) had the titre test done and the result entered into his EU passport in 2 different countries - admitedly both within the EU, but looking again at that list Irelend doesn't seem to have it's own lab, so I wonder if some of Irelands tests are performed by one of the UK labs?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}