Titers

[Jmish1035]

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Anyone here that did not have to repeat the hep B vaccination series (had a positive titer)? Seems like most people end up having to repeat it after a negative titer. I will be repeating it myself, but I am curious about this.

 

[tiramisucheese]

I did not have to repeat hep B, but I did have to get a booster for varicella, so....lol.

Not sure if it's because I got the hep B series within the last couple of years?

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Had to repeat it and varicella. I agree with your point that most people seem to have to repeat it, which makes sense considering it's a vaccine given in the first few months of life (if you followed the normal vaccination guidelines in the US). From the research I've done on it, it seems the level they establish for immunity for the titer is kind of ambiguous, and most people are still immune even if they fall below this "number". It's just a precautionary thing to get revaccinated, honestly.

 

[ciestar]

I had a positive titer and didnt have to repeat it. (I was 25)

 

[DBC03]

I'm about to set up an appointment to get this taken care of - there seem to be different rules at different schools. Should I use the AAMC recommended vaccinations to be sure I have everything covered?

 

[3toedsloth]

My varicella immunity was through the roof.

"Chicken pox parties" were super effective, I guess.

 

[DBC03]

My varicella immunity was through the roof.

"Chicken pox parties" were super effective, I guess.

Oh, sheesh. I had chicken pox back in the 80s, so let’s hope I’m good to go for that!


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[Brah of Science]

I unfortunately need to repeat the series. how imperative is it that you prove immunity prior to matriculation? Are schools pretty flexible with these requirements?

 

[CazadorFalconry]

I have excellent immunity to everything I had titered. +1 for chicken pox parties!

 

[MalteseFalconMD]

I unfortunately need to repeat the series. how imperative is it that you prove immunity prior to matriculation? Are schools pretty flexible with these requirements?

My school won't let you matriculate unless you prove you've had the 3 shot series and have a positive titer proving immunity. The 3 shot series takes 6 months so thats something you should factor in if you need to do it.

 

[MDhopeful324]

I'm hoping that I don't have to repeat! I have a past titer that is positive within the last 4 years. Fingers crossed!!

 

[MDhopeful324]

I had a positive titer and didnt have to repeat it. (I was 25)

I have excellent immunity to everything I had titered. +1 for chicken pox parties!

Ya'll are lucky ducks! Did you receive the series recently or as babies?

 

[CazadorFalconry]

Ya'll are lucky ducks! Did you receive the series recently or as babies?

As a baby. I gave myself a pat on the back for acing the test 😉

 

[aymar]

I unfortunately need to repeat the series. how imperative is it that you prove immunity prior to matriculation? Are schools pretty flexible with these requirements?

my school never even asked for a titer, only proof of immunization. I was a late admit, so I'm not sure if it just isn't their policy or it somehow got overlooked

 

[DBC03]

Ya'll are lucky ducks! Did you receive the series recently or as babies?

I'm so flipping old that the chicken pox vaccine didn't exist when I was a baby. Or as a child. Or even as a young teen.

 

[Lannister]

Yep, had to repeat the series. In fact, I'm over halfway done with M2 and I am still non-compliant with hep B vaccinations. It has been the most obnoxious thing, but luckily I'll get my (third) titer in three weeks and hopefully it will be positive.

 

[BellaWriterChic]

I tested positive on all my titers and the only vaccine I had to repeat was the meningitis cause a school required one within the past six years and my last was in 2006...


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[lovehate]

Positive titer here

 

[calivianya]

Every titer for Hep B I've had drawn has been positive. Last titer was last year, and I got the vaccines in 1999. I do have a coworker who has had the whole vaccine series three times, and has yet to have a positive titer - it just happens to some people.

My varicella immunity was through the roof.

"Chicken pox parties" were super effective, I guess.

God, I had a case of chicken pox so good I had lesions everywhere - mouth, throat, and a lot of other really uncomfortable places included. My titer was also through the roof. At least my misery was good for something.

 

[ciestar]

Ya'll are lucky ducks! Did you receive the series recently or as babies?

I was an infant and started the series in 1990 😛

 

[willow84]

Oh, sheesh. I had chicken pox back in the 80s, so let’s hope I’m good to go for that!


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I had chicken pox in the early 90s and my titer was good when I had it done a few years ago! Fingers crossed for you.

 

[ciestar]

Oh, sheesh. I had chicken pox back in the 80s, so let’s hope I’m good to go for that!


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I had it in 1993-1994 and I was fine!

 

[DBC03]

Let’s just say I had it, in, oh, very early 80s. I have heard that when you have the disease you have much higher titers, so I think I’ll be okay - I just need to schedule an appointment (Thanks for reminding me!)


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[djtallahassee]

Where did you guys do the titers? Just call your family practice doctor? Any way to do cheaper/free?

 

[tiramisucheese]

Where did you guys do the titers? Just call your family practice doctor? Any way to do cheaper/free?

I did it with my PCP.

 

[DBC03]

Where did you guys do the titers? Just call your family practice doctor? Any way to do cheaper/free?

I called an immunologist (just moved, don’t have a doctor in town and my school clinic has a ridiculous fee since I’m not taking classes right now). They told me to call my primary care physician. It took a while, but found someone on my insurance with an office near my volunteering.


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[Brah of Science]

My work will be doing mine since I technically need immunity to all these things to work there...

 

[djtallahassee]

Cool, yea I started making a checklist today and realized I should probably get on all that soon. Some schools haven't really given me the info yet though.

 

[Brah of Science]

Cool, yea I started making a checklist today and realized I should probably get on all that soon. Some schools haven't really given me the info yet though.

I believe you can look online for most school's requirements

 

[ciestar]

Where did you guys do the titers? Just call your family practice doctor? Any way to do cheaper/free?

Through my PCP. Lab work was covered by my insurance.

 

[BellaWriterChic]

I got mine through work since I needed to prove immunity for my job.


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[DBC03]

I have records of my two MMR shots - I feel like each school is asking for something different, so should I get titers for everything and then get shots for any where I’m not up to snuff? Or are my records sufficient for some of these?


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[ciestar]

I have records of my two MMR shots - I feel like each school is asking for something different, so should I get titers for everything and then get shots for any where I’m not up to snuff? Or are my records sufficient for some of these?


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My school wanted my records AND titers for HBV, MMR, and Varicella. Records were sufficient for the others.

 

[DBC03]

My school wanted my records AND titers for HBV, MMR, and Varicella. Records were sufficient for the others.

I’m thinking i will do both to be safe


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[MDhopeful324]

I got mine through work since I needed to prove immunity for my job.


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Same, but I'm wondering if they're current enough. Other than the TB test, none of these titer requirements (in general) have time restrictions, right?

 

[mongoose1180]

I did not have to repeat hep B, but I did have to get a booster for varicella, so....lol.

Not sure if it's because I got the hep B series within the last couple of years?

I had titers done and even though I had chicken pox as a child, I still had to get both varicella as my titers came up negative.

 

[BellaWriterChic]

Same, but I'm wondering if they're current enough. Other than the TB test, none of these titer requirements (in general) have time restrictions, right?

I emailed the admissions office to ask and they told me mine were good. I got mine in 2016. Another school wanted them within six months before matriculation and would not accept mine. So each school is different.

 

[calivianya]

Where did you guys do the titers? Just call your family practice doctor? Any way to do cheaper/free?

I work at a hospital so my work did mine... but you can also pick up a volunteer gig at a hospital. They will draw all of your titers for you, give you the flu shot and any other vaccine you're missing, and test you for TB for free.

 

[tiramisucheese]

I work at a hospital so my work did mine... but you can also pick up a volunteer gig at a hospital. They will draw all of your titers for you, give you the flu shot and any other vaccine you're missing, and test you for TB for free.

This will vary based on the hospital. At my local hospital, it's on your own dime.

 

[DBC03]

This will vary based on the hospital. At my local hospital, it's on your own dime.

Ours offered free flu vaccine and TB test, but no titers


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[djtallahassee]

Ours offered free flu vaccine and TB test, but no titers


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So my hospital did the two step TB when I started, but some schools want it done within the last X months.

The whole titers thing is actually a little more confusing than I originally thought. But I have an apt with my PCP Tues to get the main titers done. Seems like the only pressing one that can't be done in a few weeks if negative is the HepB

 

[tiramisucheese]

Ours offered free flu vaccine and TB test, but no titers


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Once we're in as a volunteer, then we do get free flu vaccines. So that's something!

 

[narla_hotep]

My Hep B titers came up negative and I had to repeat the series, but at least at my school they let you finish it up while already enrolled.

 

[calivianya]

This will vary based on the hospital. At my local hospital, it's on your own dime.

...That's crazy. How to they expect to get volunteers if they make their volunteers pay for things? 😕

 

[tiramisucheese]

...That's crazy. How to they expect to get volunteers if they make their volunteers pay for things? 😕

The area where I live has approximately a gazillion retired people looking for things to do. They do it. Plus, insurance covers most of those costs.

 

[DBC03]

The area where I live has approximately a gazillion retired people looking for things to do. They do it. Plus, insurance covers most of those costs.

I think you live in the same community I do - but just in the north!

 

[Boogy'sChick15]

When I started volunteering at a hospital, my titers for HepB, Varicella, and MMR were all negative so I had to retake them all. I was able to get immunity for HepB and MMR, but Varicella still didn't work.
They gave me 2 boosters over the course of 4 months, but it turns out I'm unresponsive to the vaccine, so no immunity for me!

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