CDC Guidelines and Recommendations
On September 19, 2008, CDC published updated and expanded guidelines for testing for chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and recommendations for public health evaluation and management for chronically infected persons and their contacts. Serologic testing for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the primary way to identify persons with chronic infection with HBV infection.
Testing for HBsAg now is recommended for:
- persons born in geographic regions with HBsAg prevalence of ≥2%
- US born persons not vaccinated as infants whose parents were born in geographic regions with HBsAg prevalence of ≥8%
- injection-drug users
- men who have sex with men
- persons with elevated ALT/AST of unknown etiology
- persons with selected medical conditions who require immunosuppressive therapy
Testing continues to be recommended for:
- pregnant women
- infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers
- household contacts and sex partners of HBV-infected persons
- persons who are the source of blood or body fluid exposures that might warrant postexposure prophylaxis (e.g., needlestick injury to a health care worker)
- persons infected with HIV
Recommendations for Identification and Public Health Management of Persons with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection, MMWR 2008;57(RR-8)
Two-page Summary Table: Recommendations for Routine Testing and Vaccination for Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection Color
[PDF - 1 page] Black-White
[PDF - 1 page]
Related Map: Geographic Distribution of Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection undefined Worldwide, 2006
[PDF - 1 page]
____________________________________________________________________________
Institute of Medicine (January 2010): "Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer"
____________________________________________________________________________
"Do You Need a Hepatitis B Test?"
English version (PDF)
Other languages: [En Español] [中文]
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Hepatitis B can lead to serious health problems including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer and death.
If you are interested in ordering hard copies of this brochure for your patients, please do so by calling 311.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Hepatitis B: The Facts"
A comprehensive patient guide published by the New York City Department of Health. The guide is available in Chinese, English, Spanish, French and Korean. PDF versions of each language are provided below.
If you are interested in ordering hard copies of the guide for your patients, please do so by calling 311.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"How To Tell Others That You Have Chronic Hepatitis B"
A patient's guide on how to discuss your health situation with friends, family members or health care providers
If you are interested in ordering hard copies of the guide for your patients, please do so by calling 311.
_____________________________________________________________________________________