Non Reactive Hep B Titer

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 23, 2015

Got my lab results back today.... And I'm non-reactive to Hep B. Now I have to get the three vaccine series and get blood drawn all over again. $200 dollars down the drain
Uhg. I was doing so well completing my clinical requirements, this was my last one!!
Has this happened to anybody else? Any idea what can cause this to happen? I'm scared that if I don't show immunity next time, I'm going to be at high risk for contracting Hep B as a nurse...
I could use some words of encouragement. It's been a bad week

I was immune and lost immunity. I only required a repeat booster rather than the full series as my numbers weren't that low. Some people never seroconvert. It's reality. While highly virulent it's not that easy to contract HepB if you follow standard universal precautions with every patient every time.

Of course my titer turned equivocal as I started nursing school. (I was considered immune in all my years in EMS, ER Tech, pharmaceutical research, phlebotomist...). My nursing school director explains it happens and they found those who were vaccinated in the early 90's when mass vaccinations occurred had reduced immunity 10-15 years later. A booster was fine for many, some needed to repeat the series. If you are really worried check out the protocols on the cdc website so you know what to expect.

happyinmyheart · Jun 23, 2015

Thank you for responding! I was indeed born in 1995. I received the series when I was an infant, so it was a shock to find out that I was not immune. Our nursing school requires you to go through the entire series again if you are non-responsive to the first series. Then you have blood drawn again, and if you are still non-responsive you have to sign a waiver. I have been looking at the CDC website as well to try and learn more. I am so scared that something is wrong with me

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 23, 2015

Usually there is nothing wrong other than human variation. Since direct exposure is necessary to contract HepB personally I'd be more concerned if I did not have immunity to the airborne illnesses like measles and varicella.

Take a breath. I have a friend that received the three shot series 3x and never converted. She never contracted hepatitis in the 25+ years of direct patient contact. Read the site and learn more.

happyinmyheart · Jun 23, 2015

Usually there is nothing wrong other than human variation. Since direct exposure is necessary to contract HepB personally I'd be more concerned if I did not have immunity to the airborne illnesses like measles and varicella.
Take a breath. I have a friend that received the three shot series 3x and never converted. She never contracted hepatitis in the 25+ years of direct patient contact. Read the site and learn more.

Thanks JustBeachyNurse. I finished reading the CDC website, and I feel a little better now. *Giant breath* :)

GSPmom · Jun 24, 2015

I am going through a similar issue, mine is for Hep B and Chicken pox. I My Primary Care doctor mentioned he wants to only do boosters to start, but I may have to have another Hep B series. I have to have another titer test done to check everything again.

I had chicken pox back in the 80's and Hep B I can remember having done the complete series at least twice, once as a teen and the other for a job at a hospital.Needless to say I'm surprised at the results, not in a bad away. I just find it interesting.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 24, 2015

I'm surprised at the requirement for having an entire series of HBV done again. My facility policy is if a prospective employee were to be non-immune with a titer, we do one booster and do a titer a month or so later. If that shows immunity....we're done. If not, THEN we continue the series. Seems like a waste to do multiple vaccinations if just one might do the trick.

I had a series done in early 2000's, and demonstrated immunity just a few months ago. If I hadn't....hey, what's another puncture mark?

JMB0514 · Jun 24, 2015

That happened to me. My titer for Hep B was low but my doctor just ordered a booster. It happens :) Get the vaccines and follow standard precautions and you should be fine.

happyinmyheart · Jun 24, 2015

I am going through a similar issue, mine is for Hep B and Chicken pox. I My Primary Care doctor mentioned he wants to only do boosters to start, but I may have to have another Hep B series. I have to have another titer test done to check everything again.
I had chicken pox back in the 80's and Hep B I can remember having done the complete series at least twice, once as a teen and the other for a job at a hospital.Needless to say I'm surprised at the results, not in a bad away. I just find it interesting.

It makes me feel better to know that I'm not alone. My nursing school requires us to go through the whole Hep B series if we don't meet immunity. I wish I could just try a booster and see if that does the trick :)

happyinmyheart · Jun 24, 2015

I'm surprised at the requirement for having an entire series of HBV done again. My facility policy is if a prospective employee were to be non-immune with a titer, we do one booster and do a titer a month or so later. If that shows immunity....we're done. If not, THEN we continue the series. Seems like a waste to do multiple vaccinations if just one might do the trick.
I had a series done in early 2000's, and demonstrated immunity just a few months ago. If I hadn't....hey, what's another puncture mark?

Its expensive to get the series done again, so I'm not very happy about it :) I wish I could try a booster and see if that works!!

happyinmyheart · Jun 24, 2015

That happened to me. My titer for Hep B was low but my doctor just ordered a booster. It happens :) Get the vaccines and follow standard precautions and you should be fine.

Hopefully I'll be immune after round 2 :) Thanks for your reassurance!

CountryMomma, ASN, RN · Jun 24, 2015

I had three full rounds of Hep B vax - as a child, in my late teens as a CNA, and then again after it was discovered that the Hep B wasn't administered correctly. So when I applied for nursing school, I got my titers for varicella and Hep completed - after 3 rounds, I had not converted. *sigh*

My place of employment felt it was pointless to keep pumping me full of vax that won't take, so I worked as a non immune nurse.

Until I got a needlestick injury. I cried on my way home.

To everyone's surprise, my tests came back negative for active Hep B and positive for seroconversion! At some point I spontaneously converted I guess.

Good luck!