Measurement of Immune response to rDNA hepatitis B vaccine in medical laboratory students, Wad Medani, Sudan

Introduction: The level of immune response to hepatitis B virus vaccine is an indicator of whether the expected protection has been achieved in the target population. Objective: the study aimed to determine the immune response to recombinant hepatitis B virus rDNA among students in two medical laboratory colleges in Wad Madani city in Sudan. Methods: A cross-sectional laboratory based study conducted during 2019. The assigned subject was 72 medical laboratory students who completed all three doses of HBV rDNA vaccine. Immune response indicated by quantitatively measuring of HbsAbs (anti-HBs) using a sandwich ELISA approach. Data was collected after verbal meeting with each participants, and descriptively analyzed accomplished by SPSS computer program. Results: Enrolled participants were 50 % (36 /72) from Gezira University while the other 50 % were from Wad Medani College for Medical Science and Technology. Males represented 22% (16/72) while 78% (56/72) were females. Titers of anti-HBs ranged from 0.000 to 9478 mIU/ml, only 6 students (three males and three females) were non-responders. The overall index of significant titer detected in 78% (56/72) of participant whereas 22% (16/72) showed insignificant titer. Strong immune response with titer above 100 mIU/ml recorded in 46% (33/72). Conclusion: The level of immune response to the HBV rDNA vaccine among studied students was below the internationally recognized index.