Persistence of hepatitis B surface antibody to hepatitis B vaccine among medical college students in Najran University, Saudi Arabia

• Published in: Bioinformation Vol. 18; no. 7; pp. 617 - 621
• Main Authors: Ahmad A, Alshehri, Saleh A, Alshamrani, Osman A, Elnoubi, Abdullah J, Alshahrani, Ahmad M, Saif, Mohammed H, Nahari, Nahid K, Elfaki, Mohammed A, Alshahrani, Saeed M, Alfateh, Mutaib M, Mashraqi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Biomedical Informatics 31.07.2022
• Subjects: Antibodies; Blood groups; Chemiluminescence; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Immunity; Immunization; Immunoassay; Medical science; Microparticles; Students; Vaccines; Viruses; Saudi Arabia; Chemiluminescence assay; ABO/Rh blood groups; Hepatitis B virus
• ISSN: 0973-2063; 0973-8894; 0973-2063
• DOI: 10.6026/97320630018617

Around 257 to 291 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Immunization is one of the most effective ways to combat HBV infection. Saudi Arabia implemented a mandatory hepatitis B immunization program in 1989. This project investigated the levels of hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) among medical students in the college of applied medical science at Najran University in December 2020. Students (n=82) were tested for anti-HBs levels using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). Anti-HBs levels were the main outcome measures. Results showed that about 81.7% of participants had an insufficient amount of Anti-HBs levels (<10 IU/ L) compared to 18.3 % of participants who had protective levels of anti-HBs (≥10 IU/ L). However, 78.5% of the reactive group was at risk of losing immunity with a level between 12 and 42 IU/ L. Our study also showed an association between the age and the level of anti-HBs. Moreover, male students were at more risk than female students. Our results showed a strong relationship between Blood Groups and Anti-HBs antibody levels. The O+ (with 38.8%) and A+ (with 25.4%) blood groups showed the highest percentage amongst participants who had inadequate protection of anti-HBs (<10 IU/ L). Thus, data helps in our understanding and observations on anti-HBV immunity in individuals twenty years after being vaccinated as a child. According to the findings of our study, a large majority of students had a non-protective anti-HBs titer.