How to Get Titer Tests for Nursing School: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

How-to guide · Updated June 2026 · By the Laboratories.org editorial team

Getting titer tests for nursing school involves more steps than a single online purchase — you need to know exactly what your program requires, order the right tests, schedule a blood draw, and submit results in the correct format. This guide walks through the complete process, from reading your program's requirement list to submitting final documentation.

Step 1: Get your program's exact requirements

Do not start ordering tests before you know exactly what your program requires. Requirements vary — some programs accept vaccine records in lieu of titers for MMR and Varicella; others require positive titers for every disease. Some specify Quest or LabCorp; others accept either. Some require specific test formats (quantitative only).

Where to find requirements:

• Your admission packet or student handbook
• The student health or clinical compliance portal for your program
• An email to the program's student health coordinator
• Castlebranch, Complio, or similar compliance management platforms that many programs use

Typical requirements include: Hepatitis B surface antibody (quantitative titer), MMR (titer or 2-dose vaccine records), Varicella (titer or 2-dose Varivax records), Tdap within 10 years (vaccine record, not usually a titer), and a TB test (QuantiFERON blood test or TST skin test). Some programs also require Hepatitis A or annual flu vaccine.

Step 2: Check what you already have

Before spending money on tests, check your existing vaccine records:

• Documented 2 MMR doses (given at or after age 1, at least 28 days apart): Per CDC guidance, this supersedes a negative measles titer. Many programs accept this without requiring a titer.
• Documented 2-dose Varivax series: Per CDC, this supersedes a negative varicella titer. If you have these records, confirm whether your program requires a titer anyway.
• Prior titer results: A previously positive titer from another school or employer may be acceptable — confirm with your program whether older results are accepted.
• Tdap vaccine within 10 years: If you have this record, you likely do not need to do anything for Tdap.

Only order titers for the specific tests you actually need. Ordering unnecessary tests costs money you do not need to spend.

Step 3: Choose individual tests or a panel

If you need all three titers (Hep B, MMR, Varicella), an immunity panel bundle is almost always cheaper than buying individual tests — typically saving $20–$35 depending on the portal. See the immunity panel cost comparison and the cheapest titer tests roundup to compare prices.

If you only need one or two tests, buy individually from the cheapest provider for each specific test. See the full provider comparison for side-by-side pricing.

Step 4: Order online and get the blood draw

Ordering a titer test online through a direct-to-consumer portal takes about 5–10 minutes:

1. Create an account on your chosen portal and complete the purchase. You must be 18 or older for most portals.
2. Behind the scenes, an independent contracted physician reviews and approves the order — this is included in the purchase price and does not require you to do anything.
3. Receive your requisition. You will get an email with a lab order number or a PDF requisition form, typically within minutes to a few hours.
4. Find a patient service center. Use the Quest or LabCorp website to find a convenient blood draw location near you. No appointment is required at most locations, though scheduling one can reduce wait time.
5. Bring photo ID and your requisition to the patient service center. The blood draw is a standard venous blood draw — no fasting, no special preparation. The draw takes about 5 minutes.

See Do you need a doctor to order a titer test? for more detail on how the direct-to-consumer ordering process works.

Step 5: Get your results

Results are typically available within 1–5 business days, accessible through your online portal account. Download the result PDF — schools require the official lab result printout showing numerical values, your name, date of the test, and the lab's letterhead. Screenshots are generally not accepted.

Key things to verify in your result:

• The result shows the quantitative numerical value (not just "immune/non-immune")
• Your name and date of birth match your school records
• The test name matches what your school requires (e.g., "Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative" — not "Hepatitis B Surface Antigen")
• The result is positive/immune for the relevant test

Step 6: If non-immune — the booster-and-retest cycle

A non-immune titer result means your antibody level is below the protective threshold. This is not uncommon — a portion of vaccinated individuals are non-responders or have waning immunity. The protocol:

1. Receive the appropriate vaccine or booster (MMR for measles/mumps/rubella non-immunity; Hepatitis B vaccine series for Hep B non-immunity; Varivax for varicella non-immunity). Your healthcare provider will guide which doses are needed.
2. Wait 6–8 weeks after the final dose. This waiting period is critical. Testing too soon after vaccination will produce a false non-immune result because vaccine antigens may still be circulating. Per CDC and IAC guidance, 6–8 weeks is the minimum wait.
3. Re-test. Order a new titer test and repeat the process. If positive, you are done.
4. If still non-immune after the full series: You may be a vaccine non-responder. Keep all records showing your vaccination attempts and non-immune results — most schools accept documented non-response with a completed vaccine series as compliance.

Step 7: Submit your results

Follow your program's submission process exactly. Common formats:

• Upload PDF results to Castlebranch, Complio, or similar compliance platform
• Email results directly to student health or the clinical compliance coordinator
• In-person submission to student health services

Keep copies of all results for your personal records — you may need them again for future employers or if you transfer programs.

Realistic timeline

Plan for the worst-case scenario: all titers come back non-immune.

If multiple titers are non-immune — or if a second complete vaccine series is needed for Hepatitis B non-response — the process can take 3–6 months. Start as early as possible. Many programs have submission deadlines weeks before clinical rotations begin.

Related pages

• Best online labs for nursing school immunization requirements
• Cheapest titer tests online (2026 roundup)
• Do you need a doctor to order a titer test?
• Titer Testing Guide