T. Warner Hudson, MD FACOEM, FAAFP

Medical Director, Occupational and Employee Health

UCLA Health System and Campus

Office 310.825.9146

Fax 310.206.4585

Pager 800.233.7231  ID 27132

E-mail twhudson@mednet.ucla.edu

Website www.ohs.uclahealth.org

Amanda Wagner RN | Supervisor Health Services
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SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica and Discovery Cove
7007 SeaWorld Drive | Orlando, FL 32821

(407) 363-2171 Phone | (407) 363-2143 Fax
Amanda.Wagner@seaworld.com | www.seaworld.com

Inspiring people, through the power of entertainment,

to celebrate, connect and care for the natural world we share.

if the employee “was sure” they completed the series in the past. In most cases now, based on the newest recommendations, we repeat the series or get a declination rather than titer if there is no documentation of the three vaccines.

Brenda Kantner RN COHN-S/CM
Employee Health Coordinator
Schuylkill Medical Center
700 East Norwegian St
Pottsville, PA 17901
Phone 570-621-4351
Fax   570-621-4257
bkantner@schuylkillhealth.com

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net] On Behalf Of Adamo, Philip
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 8:40 AM
To: 'mcoh-eh@mylist.net'
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Hepatitis B and titers

Good morning all:

I am interested in how your institution handles Hep B titers at pre-placement

The 2013 CDC recommendations state:

“All HCP recently vaccinated or recently completing HepB vaccination who are at risk for occupational blood or body fluid exposure should undergo anti-HBs testing. Anti-HBs testing should be performed 1–2 months after administration of the last dose of the vaccine series when possible. HCP with documentation of a complete ≥3-dose HepB vaccine series but no documentation of anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL who are at risk for occupational blood or body fluid exposure might undergo anti-HBs testing upon hire or matriculation. Testing should use a quantitative method that allows detection of the protective concentration of anti-HBs (≥10 mIU/mL) (e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]).”

The word “might” is not good especially when mid level providers work off protocols. This is also different then what figure 6 implies.We also know and the literature supports that the measurement of immunity wanes over time. My recall is that after 7 years it is difficult to measure the immunity greater than 10. There is also literature that those who receive the vaccine in infancy have undetected immunity in adulthood; however, they are immune to Hep b.

Based on this information, I have in previous hospitals set a standard of giving a booster for those with documented 3 doses and more than 7 years and then checking the immunity with a titer rather than checking a  titer, getting an non immune response, administering a booster and checking again. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,

Phil

Philip Adamo, M.D., MPH, FACOEM

Associate Vice President and

Medical Director, Employee Health &

Occupational Injury Care and Wellness

UMass Memorial Medical Center

Hahnemann Campus Suite 201

291 Lincoln Street

Worcester, MA 01605

Phone: 508-334-6179

FAX: 508-334-6433

cell 508-713-3993

philip.adamo@umassmemorial.org

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