title: Hepatitis B virus seroconversion rates among health sciences students in the southeastern United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) seroconversion rate among health sciences students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included pharmacy, doctor of nursing, and medical students over 18 years of age enrolled at the University of South Carolina between 2007 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary end point was HBV seroconversion rates among students at the initial reporting period. Seroconversion was defined as hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) level greater than or equal to 10 mIU/mL. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine predictive factors of seroconversion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 777 records, data were available for 709 students. An 83.9% seroconversion rate was observed after a mean of 10 years between vaccine receipt and anti-HBs evaluation. Students with incomplete HBV vaccine series and longer time between initial series and evaluation were less likely to exhibit antibody response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data highlight the importance of assessment and documentation of HBV vaccination series among health sciences students prior to direct patient care activities.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Outcomes Sciences , SC College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: P Brandon
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Bookstaver
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacy , Palmetto Health Richland , Columbia , South Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Jenna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Outcomes Sciences , SC College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Z Kevin
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: c Department of Preventive Medicine , University of Mississippi , Jackson , Mississippi , USA.
authors.forename: Joshua R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: d Triad Isotopes, Richmond , Virginia , USA.
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ambrose
authors.affiliation: e SC College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: f College of Nursing, University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burgess
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069078:Seroconversion; D013022:South Carolina; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Health education; health sciences; hepatitis B virus; immunization; seroconversion; students, titer