[Question #9497] HEP-B Loss of Immunity Concerns
32 months ago
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Hi Doctor,
I was just looking over my STD test results from June 2021 and noticed that my doctor wrote that I needed the HEP B vaccine. I know that I was vaccinated at birth because I verified via my medial records. 1st dose was at birth, 2nd dose was 2 months later and the third dose was approximately 6 months later. That being said, I was NON-REACTIVE on the following:
Hep B Surface Antibody QL
Hep B Surface Antigen w/Refl Confirm
Hep B Surface Antigen
Hep B Core AB Total
Do these results indicate that I've lost immunization? I'm 29 years old, born in July of 1993. I'm worried because I've had unprotected sexual intercourse with 2 females since this STD testing report. One of those females was a 26 year old CSW in Mexico that I've become friends with. It was only once that we didn't use protection. Vaginal only. Outside of that, I always use condom protection. I'm circumsized, but I'm a low HSV-2 positive that has yet to be confirmed with a Western Blot.
I'm wondering if I should retest to confirm I haven't contracted HEP-B.
Also, if still negative, should I re-vaccinate against HEP-B? Assuming I've lost immunization.
I also noticed that I tested reactive for HEP-A. AB, Total Does that indicate that I was infected with HEP-A at the time of testing?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
32 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment.
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Following vaccination for hepatitis B antibody levels decline gradually and it is not unusual to have no detectable antibodies several decades after vaccination. That does not mean that there is not protection. There are two reasons for this. First, other parts of the immune system are also activated and provide protection. Secondly, there are residual memory cells are present which can produce protective antibodies if stimulated. As a generalization, because of the decline in antibodies I described above, checking antibodies after childhood vaccination is not recommended because of the confusion it causes. There is no recommendation for additional vaccination for persons in your situation. I would not worry about the exposures you describe and would be confident that you are still protected.
Your hepatitis A test result indicates either that you had hepatitis A in the past or that you have received the hepatitis A vaccine. Many hepatitis A infections are asymptomatic. Either way, you are protected against furture hepatitis A.
I hope this information is helpful. EWH