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Hepatitis B - Management
How do I screen for hepatitis B?
- Screening for hepatitis B usually involves testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), but laboratory policy varies.
- The detection of HBsAg indicates acute hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis B infection.
- The detection of anti-HBc indicates current or past hepatitis B infection.
- Provide full details to the laboratory. A request for 'hepatitis screen' or 'hepatitis serology' alone is likely to be inadequate. The following information should be included to allow the laboratory to select the appropriate tests:
- The person's vaccination status.
- Whether the test is for past exposure or response to vaccination.
- Whether or not acute hepatitis is suspected.
- If the person is immunocompromised (when hepatitis B virus [HBV]-DNA may be of more use).
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