IMMUNIZATIONS AND COMPLIANCE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Forms/Immunity Requirements/Titers/Tb/ Drug Screen/Tetanus/Flu
vaccination/Exemptions/CPR/Background Check/Registration Holds
How many forms for immunizations must I complete?
Urbana students
Two forms – The McKinley Form and the UIC College of Nursing Compliance Form
Chicago students
Living On-campus –
Two forms: UIC On Campus Housing Medical Immunization Form and the UIC College
of Nursing Compliance Form
Living Off campus:
One form: the UIC College of Nursing Compliance Form
The UIC On Campus Housing Medical Immunization Form is turned in to the Office of Medical
Immunizations. The information regarding how to do that is on the form. This form is mailed to you
separately. The UIC On Campus Housing Medical Immunization Form requires similar information to
the College of Nursing form, so it can be confusing. But remember, THE UIC On Campus Housing
Medical Immunization Form HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COLLEGE OF NURSING
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS.
What proof of immunization is required for the College of Nursing?
All incoming nursing students must show proof of immunity to several diseases.
Requirements include:
Titers for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and Hep B.
Initial 2-step PPD skin test or Quantiferon Gold TB blood test
Current PPD or Quantiferon Gold TB blood test
Td or TDaP within the past 10 years
Annual Flu vaccination
What titers are required?
IgG titers are required for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. IgM titers do not fulfill this
requirement.
Hepatitis B surface antibody (HepBsAb or antiHepB) is required for Hepatitis B.
I had my titers done a long time ago. Is there an expiration date on the titers?
No, titers are acceptable from any time in the past. The titers must be actual lab reports.
How do I get titers done?
Many health insurance companies do not cover the cost of blood titers. Some students can get them
done without charge if they work at a hospital or other healthcare agency. However it is an out-ofpocket expense for most students. Because of this, we have arranged for special pricing for
students to have these tests done. Our recommendation is to have the titers done at University
Health Service, here on campus at UIC. Their contact information and hours are at the top of the
titer request form which is available on line.
I am a regional student. Is there anywhere else I can go to get the titers done?
The College of Nursing has an agreement with Quest Diagnostics Labs. Students who would like to
have titers done through Quest need to DOWNLOAD AND PRINT the Quest form online, and then
submit pre-payment in the form of a money order to the College of Nursing as stated on the form.
PERSONAL CHECKS WILL BE RETURNED AND MAY DELAY YOUR CLINICAL PLACEMENT.
What do I do once my blood titers are done?
Obtain your results. Results should be positive. SUBMIT THEM TO THE STUDENT
IMMUNIZATION TRACKER. Any record of re-immunization should be submitted to your student
Immunization Tracker also.
One of my measles, mumps or rubella titers is not immune. What do I do?
In the event of non-immune titers, the student must have at least one booster vaccine, but a
positive titer is the end goal of any re-immunization.
Your provider may advise you to only get a booster based on your lab results.
The following are the CON guidelines for re-immunization, in the event of an initial negative titer.
Measles: two vaccinations four weeks apart. Repeat the titer between 4-8 weeks later.
Mumps: two vaccinations four weeks apart. Repeat the titer between 4-8 weeks later.
Rubella: one vaccination. Repeat the titer between 4-8 weeks later.
Feel free to contact the clinical compliance coordinator at immunity@uic.edu.
What do I do if my varicella titer is negative?
If your varicella titer is negative, you must show proof of two vaccinations in your lifetime. A
repeat titer IS done after a second varicella vaccination.
My Hepatitis B surface antibody titer is not immune. I had the vaccine series many years ago.
Am I not immune to Hepatitis B?
You are most likely immune, but immunity to Hepatitis B is hard to detect if the vaccinations were
given more than a year before the titer was obtained. The College of Nursing requires a positive
titer. Your provider may advise that you only get a booster based on your lab results. However, if
the second titer does not come back positive, then you will need to complete the Hep B vaccination
series and repeat the titer again. Only six Hepatitis B vaccinations are recommended in a lifetime.
The guidelines for re-immunization in the event of a negative titer are:
Hepatitis B: three vaccinations given at 0,1 and 6 months. Repeat the titer between 4-8 weeks
later.
What if my Hepatitis B surface antibody titer is still negative after repeating the vaccination
series?
A Hepatitis B surface antigen is required. That should be negative. If it is negative, you are
considered a non-converter. This information is valuable in the event that you are ever exposed to
Hepatitis B virus.
What if the Hepatitis B surface antigen is positive?
You would be referred to a specialist and a Hep B Core DNA would be required. Contact
immunity@uic.edu for directions regarding same.
What is required for TB screening?
Initially, two PPD (TB) skin tests one to three weeks OR two tests within 12 months of each other
apart are required upon admission to the College of Nursing. Once this has been done, annual TB
testing is required which consists of a single PPD skin test. Students can obtain a Quantiferon Gold
TB blood test in lieu of either the 2-step PPD skin test or the annual PPD skin test.
I have had a positive TB test in the past. What do I do?
Students testing positive must submit the following:
-Medical letter stating the date of positive blood test or PPD and result in mm
-Chest x-ray report dated after the positive date
-Annual TB signs and Symptoms form, completed each year
HISTORY OF BCG VACCINATION IS NOT a reason for exemption related to a POSITIVE
HISTORY. DOCUMENTATION FROM A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL MUST BE SUBMITTED
THAT STATES THE DATE AND REACTION OF THE POSITIVE PPD SKIN TEST. IF YOU
CANNOT PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF A POSITIVE TEST, THE PPD TEST MUST BE
REPEATED. THIS IS MANDATED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
How do have a urine drug screen completed?
The procedure for obtaining the urine drug screen is different for Chicago students and for
regional students. Please follow the directions carefully. URINE DRUG SCREENS WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
Will I need to repeat the urine drug screen while I am a student in the College of Nursing?
Not necessarily. A repeat drug test would only be needed if this is a requirement of a clinical
setting in your program. You will be notified in this event.
Can I submit proof of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) instead of DT?
No. The vaccine must be DT, TD, DPT or TDaP. Tetanus toxoid (TT) is not acceptable by either the
University of Illinois or the College of Nursing
What do I need to know about the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is required of all students every fall.
Most students in clinical settings will need to show proof of vaccination before being allowed into
the clinical setting. It is imperative to get your flu vaccination early! Free flu vaccinations are
available through University Health Services for CON students. Students are held responsible for
getting the flu vaccine when it becomes available for that year’s flu season. A vaccination in Spring
does not qualify for the Fall requirement because strains of flu change from year to year and
vaccinations are made accordingly.
Students not in clinical areas must get the current flu vaccination before Spring registration. The
vaccination from the previous year expires for the CON on Nov. 1.
What are the CPR requirements?
Current AHA certification for Healthcare provider at the level of Basic Life Support is required
for all students. Specialty programs such as pediatrics, midwifery and adult health have additional
CPR certification requirements. You will be advised of these in your program.
Are there any exemptions to these requirements?
There are medical exemptions for some immunizations due to: pregnancy and breastfeeding; allergy
to a component of the vaccination and illness that would compromise the health of the student.
Documentation is required from your healthcare provider indicating the reason for the exemption
and the end date.
How do I get the background check?
Obtaining your background check is an online process and requires a credit card. The base cost of
the background check is $52. The College of Nursing has contracted with Certified Background to
assist in obtaining this information. Prior background checks will NOT be accepted. The College of
Nursing will be notified when your background check is completed. Results will be kept confidential
and will be available only to the program coordinator and the Associate Dean. Of course, you will
also have access to the results. The student should view the results of their background check for
accuracy.
Will I have to repeat the background check while I am a student in the College of Nursing?
No. The background check is required only upon admission to the CON .
I am a new international student. Do I need to have a background check. I haven’t lived here
long enough to make it worthwhile?
Instead of a new background check, another form will be required with a copy of your student visa.
This is cannot be more than one year old.
How do I get the results of the background check to the CON?
The College of Nursing can access the results of the background check. The results are reviewed
by the Deans of the College of Nursing. Once you have ordered the background check, save your
Background check request confirmation. The student will submit the Background check request
confirmation to their Immunization Tracker account. ONLY submit the Background check request
confirmation to their Immunization Tracker account. If the actual results are submitted to
Immunization Tracker, it will be rejected.
I have a hold on my registration. Can the College of Nursing lift the hold for me? I am sure
that I submitted all of the correct documents.
Registration holds originate from three places: advising holds, CON immunization holds and UIC
Office of Medical Immunizations for students living on campus. Make sure you know the source of
your hold, and then contact the appropriate party.