Guidance
Immunoglobulin: when to use
UK Health Security Agency's immunoglobulin handbook, providing guidance on administering immunoglobulin to prevent serious disease.
Documents
Ref: Gateway number: 2018160
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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.
Updates to this page
Published 1 October 2008
Last updated
1419 August 2025
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19 August 2025
Added new 'Information for patients on the prevention of diseases using immunoglobulin' publication and updated 'Administration of HNIG for measles post-exposure prophylaxis'.
14 August 2025
Updated 'Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS)'.
4 June 2025
Added telephone contact number for Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS).
19 May 2025
Updated 'Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS)'.
7 November 2024
Removed 'Immunoglobulins - how and when to issue out of hours'.
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.
20 February 2024
Added 'Hepatitis A immunoglobulin (issued 2024)'.
14 November 2023
Updated Post-exposure for non-responders section in Hepatitis B immunoglobulin.
26 September 2023
Updated 'Hepatitis B immunoglobulin'.
26 September 2022
Updated hepatitis B immunoglobulin.
4 May 2022
Updated Diphtheria anti-toxin: clinical guidance.
2 November 2021
Removed 'Important information about the Intervax diphtheria anti-toxin Lot 146 and extended use' as no longer applicable.
17 September 2021
Updated Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service information.
17 March 2021
Added updated guidance on the use of diphtheria anti-toxin.
4 March 2021
Added Hepatitis B immunoglobulin: March 2021.
2 October 2020
Added revised guidance on the use of diphtheria anti-toxin, October 2020
3 September 2020
Added: Important information about the Intervax diphtheria anti-toxin Lot 146 and extended use.
28 August 2020
Updated general immunoglobulin information.
26 August 2020
Updated Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS).
14 October 2019
Updated 'Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service: use of approved courier services'.
8 July 2019
Added revised hepatitis B immunoglobulin guidance.
19 June 2019
Added revised Hepatitis A immunoglobulin guidance.
9 November 2018
Added link to revised guidance for health professionals.
14 September 2018
RIgS page updated. VZIG documents removed and link to new VZIG page added to the details section.
23 August 2018
Added revised Diphtheria Anti-toxin (DAT) guidance for August 2018.
22 August 2018
Added revised Diphtheria Anti-toxin (DAT) guidance updated due to DAT supply.
16 August 2018
Added revised interim guidance on the use of Diphtheria anti-toxin.
8 August 2018
Added document: Updated restrictions on use of VZIG during supply shortage: advice to health professions and RIgs page updated.
16 July 2018
Updated to reflect Greenbook changes in Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG) guidance.
12 July 2018
Uploaded interim VZIG guidance for pregnant women exposed to varicella, in relation to current immunoglobulin shortages.
9 July 2018
Added details of VZIG restrictions due to shortage.
21 August 2017
Updated Chickenpox (varicella-zoster) immunoglobulin guidance to clarify dose of methotrexate on page 10.
29 June 2017
Updated hepatitis A immunoglobulin guidance to clarify dosage and timing details.
7 June 2017
Updated 'Chickenpox (varicella-zoster) immunoglobulin May 2017' guidance by adding 'methotrexate' to table on page 12.
30 May 2017
Updated Chickenpox (varicella-zoster) immunoglobulin guidance.
14 March 2017
Updated rabies and immunoglobulin service guidance.
11 October 2016
Updated Chickenpox human varicella-zoster immunoglobulin guidance
27 April 2016
Details on an update to the Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS).
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).
1 October 2008
First published.