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Hepatitis B - Management
Basis for recommendation
This information is from a guideline published by the Royal College of General Practitioners [RCGP, 2005], the United Kingdom national guideline on the management of the viral hepatitides A, B, and C [BASHH, 2008], and expert opinion from a review article [Cooke et al, 2010].
Choice of test
- CKS expert reviewers differed in their opinion on the specific serology tests to request; this clearly depends on the clinical situation and local laboratory policy. It is essential to provide full detailed clinical information when requesting hepatitis serology as laboratories vary in the tests performed.
- Request for a 'hepatitis B screen' will often result in only the HBsAg test being done. Unless acute hepatitis is suspected, this may be all that is required. However, several CKS expert reviewers noted that testing for both HBsAg and anti-HBc is preferable. Whilst some laboratories routinely test for both HBsAg and anti-HBc, others may not.
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