Countries around the world are classified into three tiers, depending on how prevalent rabies is in them: rabies-free countries, rabies-controlled countries, and high-rabies countries.

A blood titer test is necessary before international pet travel to most countries. All of Europe lists it as a requirement, and large parts of North America do as well. While some countries do not require a titer test by default, India is a high-rabies country, and extra precautions are in place for pet imports from countries classified as having high-rabies.

Why do countries list such a test as a mandatory requirement? A titer test is necessary before any international travel with a pet to ensure it is free of any viral infection and has zero chance of infecting local animals and wildlife in the destination country. In short, it is to safeguard a country’s ecosystem and ensure no foreign contaminants can enter it.

Before getting such a test though, make sure you have followed the procedure correctly. Your pet first needs to be implanted with a microchip. This microchip must be of the non-encrypted, 15-digit, ISO 11784/11785 variety. The chip should be implanted in your pet before their rabies vaccination and titer test.

Once microchipped, get your pet vaccinated against rabies. Ater 30 days or so, they will be eligible for sample collection required for the titer test. Submit the sample, wait for a period, and your pet should be ready to go overseas.