From the Guidelines
A Hepatitis B (Hep B) surface antibody titer of 90 signifies immunity to Hepatitis B.
Interpretation of Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Titer
- A titer of ≥10 mIU/mL is generally considered seroprotective and indicates immunity to Hepatitis B, as stated in the study by 1.
- The presence of anti-HBs is generally indicative of immunity to HBV infection 1.
- Anti-HBs levels of ≥10 mIU/mL are considered seroprotective; however, different assays have different assay cutoff values based on which reported levels of anti-HBs might vary depending on the assay used 1.
Key Points
- Immune individuals have long-term protection and do not need further periodic testing to assess anti-HBs levels, unless they are immunocompromised 1.
- Immunocompromised persons might need annual testing to assess anti-HBs concentrations 1.
- Vaccine recipients are differentiated from patients with resolved infection by the detection of anti-HBs without total anti-HBc 1.
Clinical Implications
- A Hepatitis B surface antibody titer of 90 is well above the protective threshold of 10 mIU/mL, indicating strong immunity to Hepatitis B.
- This individual is considered immune and does not require further vaccination or testing, unless they are immunocompromised or have other risk factors 1.
From the Research
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Titer
A Hepatitis B (Hep B) surface antibody titer of 90 signifies a level of immunity to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
- The titer level is measured in milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL) and indicates the presence of antibodies against the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in the blood.
- According to a study published in 2019 2, a titer of >100 mIU/mL is considered a sufficient response to HBV vaccination, and most subjects with this level of titer maintained an anti-HBs titer of >10 mIU/mL at 1 and 2 years after vaccination.
- However, the significance of a titer of 90 mIU/mL is not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but it can be inferred that it falls within the range of a sufficient response to HBV vaccination.
Interpretation of Anti-HBs Titers
- A study published in 2016 3 suggests that a titer of anti-HBs ≥ 10 IU/L is considered seroprotective, but it does not provide 100% protection against infection and clinically manifest illness.
- Another study published in 2022 4 found that the optimal cutoff value to predict a decreasing population in HBsAb level was 8.53 mIU/mL, with a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 70%, respectively.
- It is essential to note that the interpretation of anti-HBs titers can be complex and may depend on various factors, including the individual's immune status and medical history.
Clinical Implications
- The provided studies suggest that regular serological testing and booster vaccination may not be necessary for immunocompetent individuals with anti-HBs ≤ 10 IU/L 3.
- However, individuals with a previous HBV history, those taking antiviral drugs, and/or those with low levels of HBsAb may require reimmunization with the hepatitis B vaccine in a timely manner to maintain optimal immunity against HBV infection 4.
- The use of ELISpot assay to study HBs-specific B cell responses in vaccinated and HBV infected humans may provide valuable information for designing novel therapeutic strategies against CHB 5.