Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Problem with Hep B Titer...Please Help

I'm an upcoming nursing student and I recently finished my hep b vaccine series. However, after having my final vaccination and follow up testing, it looks like my hep b titer is nonexistent - I'm also negative for the Hep B surface antigen, which means I have no acute or chronic infection. Another girl in my class didn't have the antibodies after the 3 series either (she is from a totally different area/different doctor) - which is strange, considering how most people our age seroconvert. Anyways, I received some counseling from my doctor about hep b and the option to repeat the series, but no info as to why this happened. I'm a young male, don't smoke and I'm not overweight. Does anybody have any idea why this might have happened and if it will be a problem for nursing school if I never end up making hep b antibodies? Thanks guys.

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    Some people never have a positive titer for Hep B...even after completion of the entire series. Some will seroconvert after the 1st injection!

    Check the policy at your school; they should have a policy to follow for student who do not test positive but have proof that they've completed the series.

  • Quote

    Some people just don't convert... I know of 2 classmates who never converted and were still able to participate in clinicals.

    The reason you're not converting? Assuming you are a healthy individual with no chronic condition that could affect your immune system you are probably not converting due to a simple genetic defect in your immune system that prevents you from developing the antibodies in response to the vaccine. Some people will develop the antibodies after several HepB series injections. I would get another series or booster.

  • Quote

    I have had 10 vaccinations for hep B and cannot convert. I guess I am just one of those who won't.

  • Quote
    • Experts

    Seroconversion is a strange, strange, thing. Sometimes, it takes multiple vaccination series' to do it. Sometimes, it can happen (i.e. titers show up), but after a few years, they are gone, even for those vaccinations that don't require boosters by the CDC.

    I had titers to rubeola in the early '90s (a check needed for entrance into a master's program), with my last MMR when I was a kid. However, upon getting them re-checked for NS, I had no titers for rubeola and needed the MMR again. Go figure.

  • Quote

    It makes sense considering vaccines aren't 100% effective and you can still get a disease/illness even after being vaccinated for it. I would talk to your advisor or nursing dept. head and see what he/she says. Good luck!

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.