Serology for Hepatitis B Immunity

Hepatitis B Immunity Requirement - Nursing Students

All nursing students must submit both:

  • Documentation of a completed Hepatitis B vaccination series.

AND

  • A serology report confirming immunity to Hepatitis B.

To obtain your serology report, ask your Health Care Provider for a requisition for Hepatitis B surface antibody bloodwork. Once you have the requisition, you can visit a laboratory (e.g., LifeLabs) to have the bloodwork completed.

Important: If you have never received a Hepatitis B vaccination series, do not complete your bloodwork until one month after completing the full vaccination series. For adults, the Hepatitis B series consists of three doses.

Next Steps Based on Serology Results

  1. If your serology reports show you are reactive (immune): 
    • Submit documentation of your Hepatitis B vaccination series.
    • Submit your reactive serology report.
    • No further vaccinations are required.
  2. If your serology reports show you are non-reactive (not immune): Further steps are required depending on your vaccination history:
    • If you had 2 childhood vaccinations (common in Canadian grade schools):
      • Get a 3rd vaccination.
      • Complete follow-up serology 1 month after that dose.
      • If still non-reactive:
        • Treat this dose as Dose 1 of a new series.
        • Follow with Dose 2 one month after Dose 1, then Dose 3 six months after Dose 1.
        • Completed another follow-up serology 1 month after Dose 3.
        • Submit proof of all vaccinations and the follow-up serology to Synergy.
      • If you already had 3 vaccinations and are non-reactive:
        • You must restart the full Hep B series (3 new doses).
        • Complete follow-up serology 1 month after the final dose.
        • Submit proof of all vaccinations and the updated serology. 

Documentation Reminder:

  • Please submit the following to Synergy:

    • Documentation of your Hepatitis B vaccination series.
    • Your Hepatitis B serology report.

    If additional vaccinations are required, also submit:

    • Your original non-reactive serology report.
    • Documentation of each additional Hepatitis B vaccination received.
    • Any follow-up serology results.