Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C

Serologic testing. Serologic testing is laboratory testing of blood specimens for biomarker confirmation of HBV or HCV infection.

Risk-Factor Screening

Hepatitis B Risk-Factor Screening CDC has identified risk factors for becoming infected or chronically infected with HBV (see Box 5-4). As discussed in Chapter 3, improved provider awareness about risk factors is critical for ensuring that people at risk for chronic HBV infection are identified and that those at risk for becoming infected with HBV are vaccinated. Providers should review patients’ backgrounds (for example, country of birth) and discuss relevant behaviors to determine what services they need.

Figure 5-1 illustrates the pathway of services and care for people depending on their risk factors identified. People who have HIV infection or other sexually transmitted infections, men who have sex with men, injection-drug users (IDUs), and institutionalized and incarcerated persons

BOX 5-4

Summary of CDC At-Risk Populations for Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Persons born in geographic regions that have HBsAg prevalence of at least 2%
Infants born to infected mothers
Household contacts of persons who have chronic HBV infection
Sex partners of infected persons
Injection-drug users
Sexually active persons who are not in long-term, mutually monogamous relationships (for example, more than one sex partner during previous 6 months)
Men who have sex with men
Health-care and public-safety workers at risk for occupational exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids
Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons
Persons who have chronic liver disease
Hemodialysis patients
Travelers to countries that have intermediate or high prevalence of HBV infection

SOURCE: Mast et al., 2005, 2006.

Table of Contents

Front Matter R1-R20

Summary 1-18

1 Introduction 19-40

2 Surveillance 41-78

3 Knowledge and Awareness About Chronic Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C 79-108

4 Immunization 109-146

5 Viral Hepatitis Services 147-208

Appendix A: Committee Biographies 209-214

Appendix B: Public Meeting Agendas 215-218

Index 219-232

Risk-Factor Screening