Titer and Vaccination Explanations – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY (it’ll save you time/$$)
Serum titers are blood tests that measure whether or not you are immune to a given disease(s). More specifically a
quantitative serum titer is a titer with a numerical value indicating your actual degree of immunity to a disease(s). The
clinical sites you may visit or be working at require documented proof of immunity in the form of quantitative titers –
simply getting the vaccination is not enough. Therefore when titers are drawn they must be quantitative titers
, and you
must provide copies of the official laboratory printouts containing the numerical values for Mumps, Measles, Rubella,
Varicella, and Hep B immunity (see examples of a sample lab result on the following page).
IMPORTANT THINGS TO BE AWARE OF/PITFALLS TO AVOID:
1. If you don’t have a record of the previous vaccinations you’ve received, get your titers drawn first.
• Why? Measure your immunity level before getting vaccinated to boost it.
Your titers might indicate a
high immunity to a specific disease, in which case you won’t need to get vaccinated for that disease.
2. Please get the exact type of titers we have asked you to.
• 3 Common Mistakes Students Make
:
o Quantitative vs. Qualitative titers – quantitative have a numerical value, qualitative simply
indicates “immune vs. non-immune” (with no numerical value.)
Be sure to get quantitative
titers. If you don’t get quantitative titers, we will ask you to get them redone.
o IgG vs. IgM titers – you need IgG titers; DO NOT get labs for IgM
o Hbs AB IgG vs. Hbs AG IgG titers (for Hep B) – you need Hep B AB (antibody) titers, NOT Hep
B AG (antigen) titers.
3. If the titer for a specific disease shows that you’re not immune, you need to get vaccinated or re-vaccinated
(also known as getting a booster).
• Note:
This is where previous vaccination records are helpful. Vaccinations for different diseases have
different timelines and numbers of shots needed (ex. Varicella – 2 shot series 4-6 weeks apart vs. Hep B
– 3 shot series over 6 months). If a specific titer indicates non-immunity, then your physician (or the
Student Health Clinic) can direct you on the next steps for vaccination.
4. Once vaccinated, titers should not
be drawn until 6-8 weeks after the vaccination.
• Why? If drawn too soon afterwards, the titers will indicate non-immunity as the vaccine will still be in
your system. Don’t make the mistake of getting a titer drawn prematurely in order to meet the deadline.
Please contact us if this is your situation so that we can work with you.
WHAT TO DO IF ANY OF YOUR QUANTITATIVE TITERS COME BACK NON-IMMUNE:
1. Consult your physician about your vaccination history – how many immunizations have you already received for
the disease(s)?
2. If you haven’t already had it, start the vaccination series for the non-immune disease. If you’re part way through
the vaccination series, complete it.
3. If you’ve completed the series, you will need to get an additional immunizations for that disease.
4. After completing the series, or getting the booster,
wait 6 weeks and then get a follow-up titer. DO NOT GET
THE TITER TOO EARLY OR IT WILL COME BACK NON-IMMUNE.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR FOLLOW-UP TITER STILL COMES BACK NON-IMMUNE
If you have received all the immunizations possible (by completing the series and getting boosters), you may
not convert to immunity. At this point, it’s okay. We will need all documentation indicating your non-immunity
to the disease(s), and you will need to complete the Hep B Nonresponder form.
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