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

Human normal immunoglobulin preparations for hepatitis A, measles, polio and rubella and specific immunoglobulin preparations for hepatitis B, rabies and varicella-zoster for intramuscular use are issued by MS Colindale Immunisation Department and also by certain regional Public Health England and NHS laboratories.

The Immunoglobulin Handbook, written by experts in the Immunisation Department and their colleagues, contains information, indications and guidance for the use of these immunoglobulin preparations for each individual disease.

Immunoglobulin handbook chapters

Chapter titles	Last review date
Chickenpox (PDF, 156 KB)	October 2008
Diphtheria (PDF, 103 KB)	April 2009
General information (PDF, 23 KB)	September 2010
Hepatitis A (PDF, 81 KB)	December 2009
Hepatitis B (PDF, 110 KB) HBIG for babies born to hep b infected mothers (PDF, 204 KB)	October 2008 August 2008
Measles (PDF, 62 KB) Post Exposure Prophylaxis for Measles – detailed guidance (PDF, 119 KB)	May 2009 May 2009
Mumps (PDF, 69 KB)	October 2008
Polio (PDF, 75 KB)	October 2008
Rabies (PDF, 13 KB)	August 2010
Tetanus Immunoglobulin Handbook (PDF, 198 KB) Tetanus immunoglobulin handbook	March 2013