Have you had a Hep B titer?

kgl_2014 · Jul 27, 2012

Not Hep B buy I had my titer for MMR and I'm no longer immune to mumps. Kind of makes you wonder why we get them in the first place lol

missa8182 · Jul 27, 2012

I had my titers checked for all immunizations before entering my nursing program. I am 29 now, and my last vaccination was the Hep B in 2001, and my titers were still good, so they lasted about 10-11ish years. All my titers were fine, thank goodness, so I did not need any new vaccinations! :)

Just curious if anyone has had one? I had my series of Hep B vaccine about 10 years ago, but never got my titers checked afterward.
I am now going to work at a hospital as a nurse tech and they gave us the option to have our titers checked. I had it checked and it was negative..meaning the immunization was not effectier or my immunity(if was ever there) is no longer there. I started my new series today.
Just curious...

TheERMurse · Jul 27, 2012

I had my titer checked a few years ago, came back negative. Got a booster and had the titer rechecked a month later and it came back immune. I was still immune, but below detectable levels since it was so long ago on the initial series. You probably do not need the whole series again, just a booster to reprime your immune system to the threat.

Abigail612 · Jul 27, 2012

I had to have a Hep B titer for nursing school and it was neg. they told me though that I just needed a booster and to do the titer again, so I did and it came back fine.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2012

I had a titer back in 2009 while attending an RN bridge program to check for immunity to hep B, varicella, measles, mumps, and rubella.

I've never completed the hep B series vaccinations, although the titers indicated I was immune to everything. I've also never been vaccinated for varicella because no vaccine for it existed during my early childhood. I've started the hep B series several times since 2001, but have never finished it.

unicoRNurse · Jul 27, 2012

I had titers for everything, and they all came back fine. My program actually requires the Hep B series plus a titer, and booster plus re-titer if necessary, regardless of when you got the Hep B series (mine was at least 10 years ago).

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Jul 27, 2012

Man, wish I'd known we could have just done a booster! My Hep B also came back neg and they said I had to do the whole series again!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2012

I am not sure there is a "booster" for Hep B. Most require 2 full series to convert for immunity. There is a small portion of the population that for whatever reason never convert. I am a non converter.

nlynrob · Jul 27, 2012

I am now on my THIRD series of Hep B vacc.! I've gotten them twice, once at ten and again when I started my pre reqs in 2010 and all my blood tests keep saying no immunity. They have no explanation for me, and I'm a little concerned that this might affect me going into healthcare. My mother keeps telling me not to worry though, she's had three series also and has never shown any immunity and she's been an OR charge nurse, RNFA, and an orthopedic surgery nurse for over 20 years.

Katie71275 · Jul 28, 2012

The reason some may just need a "booster" is b/c they have certain levels where you may be at. From what they told me, when they test you if you are in a certain zone, you just need 1-2 shots...if you are completly negative, you have to get the whole series.

Im not against shots, so no biggie really, but the darn thing burns like crazy! Im also wondering about my kids and their vacc's and whether they are actually working or not!

ER(notso)n00b, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2012

Yes, I had my titers checked and they came nack positive for immunity. I had the series back in 1995 and never checked titers until I started nursing school last year. After reading some of your stories, I now consider myself lucky!