Titers for Hep B negative...a second time!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in L&D.

I posted a while back (last year?) that my titers from my Hep B series from about 6-8yrs ago were negative. I went through the entire series again. Had a titer done last week...and it's NEGATIVE again! The nurse ended up giving me a shot to act as a "booster" and will test me later to see if they will need to try the series again.

I'm assuming I may be one of those people who don't get immunity, which sorta stinks.

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I'm on my second attempt at the Hep B series and will get my blood drawn Monday to see if the series "stuck" this time around. If not, I'll be in the non-immune group with you!

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I had the series 3 times, I did the last series when I went to nursing school. I had no documentation that I had completed the series to be admitted into clinicals. Finally after the 3rd time, I finally had titers. They were low, but they finally showed

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Ugh, I hope I don't have this issue. I had my first series in middle school and when I started my CNA job 3 years ago my titers were negative. I go on Tuesday for my pre-employment health screening (at the same hospital I already work at *facepalm*) for my RN position and I'm sure they'll draw titers again. Crossing my fingers they're not negative.

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Specializes in L&D.

It really stinks. It also makes me wonder if any of my other vaccinations are working!

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celiac disease hepatitis b - PubMed - NCBI

perhaps you a yet to be diagnosed celiac?

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I would request to have some autoimmune blood work take. I had major kidney problems for years and poor immunity a mis diagnosis of kidney stones turned into autoimmune disease mixed connective tissue disease after I finally got some autoimmune testing done. My life is now pain free and manageable condition. I had a ANA and a RNP the autoimmune bloodwork full work up will detect any autoimmune diseases and basically if you have a level that is positive or a number higher than 0 you are autoimmune dx they always do a recheck for false positives and false readings. But definitely something to inquire about!

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I had the series twice and didn't convert either. Our employee health NP said that more than 2 series aren't recommended but that they're also starting to think that they might be looking in the wrong place for immunity so that those if us who appear not to have developed immunity might still have protection. I hope that is the case, because it's kinda a bummer to not be immune!

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Are there any issues with being a nurse with negative titers other than the risk of a needle stick and not being immune?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I'm a non converter as well...and I do have an auto-immune disease as well. I sometimes wonder what effect all these vaccinations and TB tests have affected me over the years.

However....immunizations are important. Check out the CDC...Vaccines: VPD-VAC/HepB/main page and a site that talks about non converters.Hepatitis B Foundation: Vaccine Non-Responders

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Are there any issues with being a nurse with negative titers other than the risk of a needle stick and not being immune?
no you are just not immune to Hep B which can also be sexually transmitted.Hepatitis B: Causes - MayoClinic.com
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Specializes in L&D.

Well that's disappointing to hear about the autoimmune part as well. My insurance starts Aug 1, so I'll see if my doc or NP can run a panel and see if anything pops up.

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