Author information

Collaborators

• Contributors: 

Karina Rapposelli ², Amy L Sandul ¹, Elisa Choi ³, Carla Coffin ⁴, Kristen Marks ⁵, David L Thomas ⁶, Su H Wang ⁷

Affiliations

• ¹Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.
• ²Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention,, CDC.
• ³Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Somerville and American College of Physicians.
• ⁴Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary and Calgary Liver Unit, Calgary Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Alberta Health Services.
• ⁵Division of Infectious Disease, Weill Cornell Medical College.
• ⁶Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.
• ⁷Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and RWJ Barnabas-Rutgers Medical Group.

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality. Although treatment is not considered curative, antiviral treatment, monitoring, and liver cancer surveillance can reduce morbidity and mortality. Effective vaccines to prevent hepatitis B are available. This report updates and expands CDC's previously published Recommendations for Identification and Public Health Management of Persons with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection (MMWR Recomm Rep 2008;57[No. RR-8]) regarding screening for HBV infection in the United States. New recommendations include hepatitis B screening using three laboratory tests at least once during a lifetime for adults aged ≥18 years. The report also expands risk-based testing recommendations to include the following populations, activities, exposures, or conditions associated with increased risk for HBV infection: persons incarcerated or formerly incarcerated in a jail, prison, or other detention setting; persons with a history of sexually transmitted infections or multiple sex partners; and persons with a history of hepatitis C virus infection. In addition, to provide increased access to testing, anyone who requests HBV testing should receive it, regardless of disclosure of risk, because many persons might be reluctant to disclose stigmatizing risks.