Healthcare Professionals/Allied Health Students:

Why do I need an MMR titer?

People who work in certain settings, such as hospitals or medical clinics, are at an increased risk for being exposed to certain diseases. As a result, many institutions want proof of a certain antibody level or vaccination for diseases such as Hepatitis B, Mumps, Measles, Rubella and Varicella prior to stepping into those settings.

What Is A Varicella Titer Test?

The Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Titer is a blood test that checks if you are immune to Varicella Zoster Virus, also known as Chickenpox and Shingles. It measures your antibody levels to get a sense for whether your immune system has the capability to respond to an infection with one of these diseases. Some people have had thechickenpox and developed immunity to varicella that way. Other people have developedimmunity through receiving the Varicella vaccine series when they are young and/or receive vaccine boosters as adults. As a consequence of either vaccination or priorexposure, people develop IgG antibodies to Varicella that provide immunity if they areexposed to the disease.

Why do I need a Hepatitis B antibody titer?

Who should get tested for Hepatitis B and why? CDC develops recommendations for testing based upon a variety of different factors. Here is a list of people who should get tested. The results will help determine the next best steps for vaccination or medical care. All pregnant women are routinely tested for Hepatitis B. If a woman has Hepatitis B, timely vaccination can help prevent the spread of the virus to her baby. Household and sexual contacts of people with Hepatitis B are at risk for getting Hepatitis B. Those who have never had Hepatitis B can benefit from vaccination. People born in certain parts of the world that have increased rates of Hepatitis B. Testing helps identify those who are infected so that they can receive timely medical care. People with certain medical conditions should be tested, and get vaccinated if needed. This includes people with HIV infection, people who receive chemotherapy and people on hemodialysis. People who inject drugs are at increased risk for Hepatitis B but testing can tell if someone is infected or could benefit from vaccination to prevent getting infected with the virus. Men who have sex with men have higher rates of Hepatitis B. Testing can identify unknown infections or let a person know that they can benefit from vaccination. 2

2 www.cdc.gov