[Course of antibody titer following preventive hepatitis B vaccination and a recommendation for renewal following the use of H-B-Vax vaccines].

97% of the vaccinees developed anti-HBs independently of the applied vaccine (experimental vaccine or H-B-Vax). With the experimental vaccine the mean antibody titre was 1095 IMU/ml four weeks after third inoculation. Follow up revealed that during a period of 18 month individual antibody titres declined continuously to approximately one tenth. Therefore the duration of protection depends on the titre of anti-HBs which was measured after the third immunization. A control of the antibody titres should be performed after about 3-5 years, when the antibody titres are greater than 1000 IMU/ml 4 weeks after vaccination. But a control should be made already after about 1 1/2-3 years if the antibody titres are 200-1000 IMU/ml. Antibody titres between 100 and 200 IMU/ml should be estimated about 6-18 months later and titres between 10 and 100 IMU/ml already about 3-6 months later. We recommend an immediate revaccination for persons with anti-HBs titres below 10 IMU/ml. Serological findings in hospital staff of the University in Hamburg revealed the presence of protective antibodies in 11,6% which is due to a previous hepatitis B infection. In this cases vaccination was unnecessary.