Guidance

Immunoglobulin: when to use

UK Health Security Agency's immunoglobulin handbook, providing guidance on administering immunoglobulin to prevent serious disease.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 1 October 2008
• Last updated: 7 November 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS)

HTML

General product information and how to administer immunoglobulin (issued August 2020)

Ref: GOV-16767

HTML

Diphtheria anti-toxin: clinical guidance (issued May 2022)

HTML

Hepatitis A immunoglobulin (issued 2024)

HTML

Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (issued November 2023)

HTML

Babies of hepatitis B infected mothers (issued August 2008)

HTML

Mumps and immunoglobulin (issued October 2008)

HTML

Rabies: Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG)

Ref: Gateway number: 2018160

HTML

Administration of HNIG for measles post-exposure prophylaxis

Ref: GOV-16767

HTML

Details

Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG)

Further advice about post-exposure rabies treatment, supply and administration of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin please see guidance for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.

Measles post-exposure prophylaxis

For guidance on the use of post-exposure prophylaxis for measles in high-risk groups please see guidance for measles post-exposure prophylaxis.

Tetanus immunoglobulin

For guidance on the treatment of tetanus cases and management of tetanus prone wounds, please see tetanus: guidance for health professionals.

Post exposure prophylaxis for chickenpox and shingles

For the latest guidance, please see the guidelines on post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for chickenpox and shingles

Immunoglobulins are concentrated antibody preparations that provide immediate short-term protection against disease for individuals at high risk of severe disease or serious complications from the disease.

These documents contain information, indications and guidance for the use of immunoglobulin preparations for each individual disease.

Published 1 October 2008
Last updated 7 November 2024 + show all updates

1. 7 November 2024

   Removed 'Immunoglobulins - how and when to issue out of hours'.

2. 1 July 2024

   Added 'Administration of HNIG for measles post-exposure prophylaxis' and updated General product information and how to administer immunoglobulin (issued August 2020) include HNIG for measles.

3. 20 February 2024

   Added 'Hepatitis A immunoglobulin (issued 2024)'.

4. 14 November 2023

   Updated Post-exposure for non-responders section in Hepatitis B immunoglobulin.

5. 26 September 2023

   Updated 'Hepatitis B immunoglobulin'.

6. 26 September 2022

   Updated hepatitis B immunoglobulin.

7. 4 May 2022

   Updated Diphtheria anti-toxin: clinical guidance.

8. 2 November 2021

   Removed 'Important information about the Intervax diphtheria anti-toxin Lot 146 and extended use' as no longer applicable.

9. 17 September 2021

   Updated Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service information.

10. 17 March 2021

    Added updated guidance on the use of diphtheria anti-toxin.

11. 4 March 2021

    Added Hepatitis B immunoglobulin: March 2021.

12. 2 October 2020

    Added revised guidance on the use of diphtheria anti-toxin, October 2020

13. 3 September 2020

    Added: Important information about the Intervax diphtheria anti-toxin Lot 146 and extended use.

14. 28 August 2020

    Updated general immunoglobulin information.

15. 26 August 2020

    Updated Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS).

16. 14 October 2019

    Updated 'Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service: use of approved courier services'.

17. 8 July 2019

    Added revised hepatitis B immunoglobulin guidance.

18. 19 June 2019

    Added revised Hepatitis A immunoglobulin guidance.

19. 9 November 2018

    Added link to revised guidance for health professionals.

20. 14 September 2018

    RIgS page updated. VZIG documents removed and link to new VZIG page added to the details section.

21. 23 August 2018

    Added revised Diphtheria Anti-toxin (DAT) guidance for August 2018.

22. 22 August 2018

    Added revised Diphtheria Anti-toxin (DAT) guidance updated due to DAT supply.

23. 16 August 2018

    Added revised interim guidance on the use of Diphtheria anti-toxin.

24. 8 August 2018

    Added document: Updated restrictions on use of VZIG during supply shortage: advice to health professions and RIgs page updated.

25. 16 July 2018

    Updated to reflect Greenbook changes in Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG) guidance.

26. 12 July 2018

    Uploaded interim VZIG guidance for pregnant women exposed to varicella, in relation to current immunoglobulin shortages.

27. 9 July 2018

    Added details of VZIG restrictions due to shortage.

28. 21 August 2017

    Updated Chickenpox (varicella-zoster) immunoglobulin guidance to clarify dose of methotrexate on page 10.

29. 29 June 2017

    Updated hepatitis A immunoglobulin guidance to clarify dosage and timing details.

30. 7 June 2017

    Updated 'Chickenpox (varicella-zoster) immunoglobulin May 2017' guidance by adding 'methotrexate' to table on page 12.

31. 30 May 2017

    Updated Chickenpox (varicella-zoster) immunoglobulin guidance.

32. 14 March 2017

    Updated rabies and immunoglobulin service guidance.

33. 11 October 2016

    Updated Chickenpox human varicella-zoster immunoglobulin guidance

34. 27 April 2016

    Details on an update to the Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS).

35. 14 April 2016

    Updated the diphtheria anti-toxin chapter: the dosage section on page 1 has changed, based on WHO guidance and may differ from the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).

36. 1 October 2008

    First published.