Problem with Hep B Titer

[muzica10]

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.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

A few of my friends had this problem in NS too... it just took 2 series to get immunity.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

Some people just don't, which is why many places require titers for personnel that are at high risk for exposure. Your school should be fine with a physician's note saying that you're repeating the series as long as you continue to provide them with documentation about further vaccinations and titers.

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

I didn't have to repeat the series after I had a negative titer, it only took one more dose.