I do not. I look for a documented positive titer for definitive proof. The person who did this job prior to me took 3 vaccines if they were documented, however recently I have been more inclined to do a titer too just because I have seen many who had not seroconverted after the series.  We have two employees that had documentation of one set, said they had a second set but not documented, so we offered them a set of the Hep B Vaccines and both of them were able to seroconvert after our series was given, so I trust that immunity best.

Tara

Tara Lee Dockery, IP, MT(ASCP), BS

Infection Preventionist and Employee Health Manager

Ocean Beach Hospital

174 First Avenue North

Ilwaco, WA 98624

Phone: (360) 642 - 6307

Fax : (360) 642 – 6309

tdockery@oceanbeachhospital.com

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net] On Behalf Of Therese Bovee-McKelvey
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 12:22 PM
To: mcoh-eh@mylist.net
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Incompletely Vaccinated HepB & Immunity Titers

Greetings;

CDC states that healthcare workers must have documentation of 3 valid HepB vaccinations followed by titer to determine immunity. 

Clinician Consultation Center states “ If exposed person is known to be immune (e.g., they were told they had a positive response to a complete HBV vaccine series, indicated by post-vaccination HBsAb titer …), they are considered to have lifelong immunity and need no hepatitis B testing or post-exposure treatment. 

Many healthcare workers come in with no or partial documentation of completing a HBV vaccine series but most have documentation of a positive HBsAb titer.  Does your facility accept documentation of completed HBV series and/or HBsAb titer to confirm immunity?  Or so you require documentation for both?

If worker (History as above) later has exposure to positive HBV source patient how do you follow-up with them?  Do you follow the Clinician Consultation Center Recommendations for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis After HBV Exposure under the category of “Unvaccinated or Incompletely Vaccinated” and follow-up for 6 months ?  Or would you do another HBsAb titer?

Thanks for any responses, it all helps.

Therese

Therese Bovee McKelvey, MN, RN Sr. Employee Health Nurse - Employee Health

425.899.2278 (P)  |  425.899.2277 (F)  | TMBoveeMcKelvey@evergreenhealth.com

EvergreenHealth MS-42, 12040 NE 128th St., Kirkland, WA 98034

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