Information and Requirements
What is Hepatitis B?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; or from mother to baby at birth. Not all people newly infected with hepatitis B virus have symptoms, but for those that do, symptoms can include fatigue, poor appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice. For many people, hepatitis B is a short-term illness. For others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection that can lead to serious, even life-threatening health issues like cirrhosis or liver cancer. Risk for chronic infection is related to age at infection: about 90% of infants with hepatitis B go on to develop chronic infection, whereas only 2%–6% of people who get hepatitis B as adults become chronically infected. The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated.
Source: Hepatitis B – FAQs, Statistics, Data, & Guidelines | CDC
What is a Surface Antibody Titer?
This is the blood test that checks for immunity to Hepatitis B. A “positive” or “reactive” anti-HBs (or HBsAb) test result indicates that a person is protected against the hepatitis B virus. This protection can be the result of receiving the hepatitis B vaccine or successfully recovering from a past hepatitis B infection. This test is not routinely included in blood bank screenings and is not a routine blood test, so it is not likely that you have done it in the past, unless needed for another academic health related program or job.
A positive anti-HBs (or HBsAb) test result means you are “immune” and protected against the hepatitis B virus and cannot be infected. You are not infected and cannot spread hepatitis B to others.
Source: Hepatitis B Foundation: Hepatitis B Blood Tests (hepb.org)
Required at UAMS
UAMS Student and Employee Health Services requires an immunization / vaccine record showing 3 hepatitis B vaccines and lab report of a positive hepatitis B surface antibody titer (titer) for any student in the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, or College of Health Professions, or employee (who has the potential to come in contact with blood and bodily fluids performing their job duties).
- Students should receive a test for hepatitis B surface antibody if / when they have completed a 3-shot series of hepatitis B immunization.
- Hepatitis B, shot #1 is the start date.
- Hepatitis B, shot #2 is administered four to eight weeks (one to two months) following shot #1.
- Hepatitis B, shot #3 is administered 8 weeks (2 months) after shot #2 and 16 weeks (4 months) after shot #1.
- The hepatitis B surface antibody titer is drawn 1 month after completing the hepatitis B, shot #3. This is the step that many students are missing. If you have submitted documentation of 3 doses of hepatitis B, please make sure you have also completed and submitted documentation of a hepatitis B surface antibody titer.
- You may have this lab drawn at Student and Employee Health Services, your primary care physician, or an outside lab. If you have this done outside of UAMS, please ensure you ask for the hepatitis B surface antibody test.
What to Do If Your Titer Is Negative
If you have received 3 doses of hepatitis B, and your titer is negative, you need to proceed to additional doses to determine whether you are able to develop immunity. Consistent with CDC recommendations, there are two options to proceed:
OPTION 1:
- Hepatitis B, shot #4 is given as a “booster” dose. A test for immunity (a titer test) is drawn one to two months after shot #4.
- If the titer is positive, no other steps are required.
- If the titer is negative, you will complete a full second series of 3 shots meaning you will complete 2 more doses of hepatitis B.
- Hepatitis B, shot #5 is administered four to eight weeks (one to two months) following shot #4.
- Hepatitis B, shot #6 is administered 8 weeks (2 months) after shot #5 and 16 weeks (4 months) after shot #4.
- The final hepatitis B surface antibody titer is drawn 1 month after completing the hepatitis B, shot #6.
- If titer is positive, you have documented immunity.
- If titer is negative, you are considered a non-responder and should remember this for processing any future blood-borne exposures.
OPTION 2:
- You may elect to complete a full second series of vaccination before evaluating your immune response.
- Hepatitis B, shot #4 is administered.
- Hepatitis B, shot #5 is administered four to eight weeks (one to two months) following shot #4.
- Hepatitis B, shot #6 is administered 8 weeks (2 months) after shot #5 and 16 weeks (4 months) after shot #4.
- The final hepatitis B surface antibody titer is drawn 1 month after completing the hepatitis B, shot #6.
- If titer is positive, you have documented immunity.
- If titer is negative, you are considered a non-responder and should remember this for processing any future blood-borne exposures.
Submit Your Documentation
UAMS Student and Employee Health Services must receive documentation of your immunization / vaccine record showing 3 hepatitis B doses, and lab report for a positive hepatitis B surface antibody titer (titer)
Students
Students in the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, or College of Health Professions will submit this information via your gus.uams.edu account.
Employees
Employees will send it via email to studentandemployeehealth@uams.edu.