Hep B titer

Aug 28, 2008 07:55 PM

by Nrsstudent09

So I had titers drawn for my Hep B in july. Nursing school student health nurse calls today and says my immunity for Hep B isn't high enough. I was told to get the series over again, I had it done in 1995 when I was a kid. She said I have to get titers drawn again after the series is done and if they are still low then I am a converter, which according to her is 5% of the population. What the heck does being a converter mean??? I tried asking her and she did not explain it very well.

I had the titer drawn last year before junior year clinicals and I was fine so I am confused as to how I was immune a year ago and now I'm not??

Thanks

TangoLima · Aug 28, 2008, 08:30 PM

Re: Hep B titer

I had a titer drawn right before NS and it also showed I did not convert. Basically, it just means that your body did not make antibodies to the Hep B virus.

I ended up getting a booster shot, after which my titer showed I had converted. If I remember correctly, I would have also had to do the series over if I hadn't converted. Then, if I still didn't have immunity then I would be considered a nonconverter.

Get a booster then draw another titer before taking the whole series over. For one thing, they are expensive. For another thing, I hate shooting myself up with all that stuff!

Good luck!

nursejoy1 · Aug 29, 2008, 02:54 AM

Re: Hep B titer

According to the CDC, Hep B vaccines are 85-95% effective for 9 years. After 9 years, immunity can drop. Also some people do not gain immunity from the vaccine.

northshore08 · Aug 29, 2008, 03:12 AM

Re: Hep B titer

I approached my doctor for a booster several years ago after a titer came back negative. He refused, and explained that the series I had received gave me all the immunity I needed, even though the titer was negative. So I notified my job of that.

It may have changed in the last few years; you can check with your doctor, and you may be able to get documentation if that is still the case. Good Luck!

Daisees · Aug 29, 2008, 04:32 AM

Re: Hep B titer

HepB is a bit different from many other vaccines. When it first became available, we would get very anal-retentive about titres and if the subject was under 1,000 would keep on giving boosters until they got there, sometimes even making the client have a whole new basic course. Sometimes we'd even try a different brand of vaccine! Non-converters occurred but were uncommon in my experience (10 years Occupational Health).

Then it was discovered that HepB was different in that antibodies could lie low until there was an exposure when the titres would rise in reponse. From then on, titres were not done on a routine basis anymore. If you had the basic course you were covered - much like tetanus, etc.

When I finished off my hospital work with a few years as a part time theatre nurse (OR) they didn't even require me to have the 5 yr booster.

Does not, however, obviate the good sense of having a booster within 24hrs at most if one sustains a suspect 'needle stick' incident.

*BSNDec06* · Aug 29, 2008, 03:16 PM

Re: Hep B titer

I am still learning, having just started in infection control. I can tell you that our practice right now is not to do titers on new employees who have already gotten the series. Many times it will come back negative, but doing the series over again isn't necessary to maintain immunity. A few employees who have sustained needlestick injuries have elected to get the recommended booster injection.

We still do a titer 2 months after the series is completed on those who are newly immunized against Hepatitis B. I was surprised to find out that there are still nurses and other health care workers who haven't been immunized.

Daisees · Aug 30, 2008, 10:38 AM

Re: Hep B titer

Gosh -really? It's required by law in this country. No up-to-date HebB certificate, no job! Well, certainly not in OR, ER or Obs, anyway.

KaroSnowQueen · Aug 30, 2008, 12:42 PM

Re: Hep B titer

I had my first Hep B series in the early 90's. When a job I took in 2001 required titers, mine were fine.
After a dirty needle stick in approx. 2004(?), my titers were low to non existent. They made me take a second course of vaccines.
My titers were still low to non existent after that. Shortly afterwards, I was diagnosed with a couple of autoimmune disorders.
I have always wondered if the factors leading to my autoimmune thyroid disease led to the lowering of my titers.

In any case, it was NOT advised that I take any more shots for Hep B.

New To Site	Need Help	Quick Links
Create An Account General Site Map allnurses.com Journals Terms Of Service Privacy Policy Testimonials Meet Our Staff Advertising Information	Information Center & FAQ Boards of Nursing How-To Video Tutorials Did you forget your password? Compare Membership Contact allnurses.com Text Version Mark All Sections As Read	United States Nursing International Nursing Nursing Specialty Advanced Practice Nursing Critical Care Nursing Nursing Specialties Get In Touch... Find Us On Facebook Follow Us On Twitter

Hep B titer

Hep B titer

Nursing News

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't

Air Force RN Force RN Found Not Guilty

Hospital Falters as Refuge for Illegal Immigrants

California Imposes Stricter Rules Regarding Drug Abuse In...

Are older nurses being forced out of the profession?

An outlook in California?

Nursing Articles

Society Needs Care Too

Why am I doing this, anyway?

Nurse Heal Thyself

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

I made it through

An angel's gaze

A Sister Never Forgets

Ruby's Marbles

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

My Little Old Jedi

I love this job......

"I hear voices"

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

Error and Attitude

It's Just a Shower

Available Topics (tags)