Bibliographic information
Recommendation
In all settings (and regardless of whether delivered through facility- or community based testing), it is recommended that HBsAg serological testing and linkage to care and treatment services be offered to the following individuals:
- Adults and adolescents from populations most affected by HBV infection
(i.e. who are either part of a population with high HBV seroprevalence or who have a history of exposure and/or high-risk behaviours for HBV infection);
- Adults, adolescents and children with a clinical suspicion of chronic viral
hepatitis (i.e. symptoms, signs, laboratory markers);
- Sexual partners, children and other family members, and close household
contacts of those with HBV infection;
- Health-care workers: in all settings, it is recommended that HBsAg serological
testing be offered and hepatitis B vaccination given to all health-care workers who have not been vaccinated previously (adapted from existing guidance on hepatitis B vaccination)
Recommended in favor
Strong
Certainty of evidence
Low
Notes and Remarks
Includes those who are either part of a population with higher seroprevalence (such as some mobile and migrant populations fr om high and intermediate endemic countries and certain indigenous populations) or who have a history of exposure or high-risk behaviour for HBV infection, such as people who inject drugs, people in prisons and other closed settings, men who have sex with men, sex w orkers, people living with HIV, partners, family members and the children of people with hepatitis B. Features that may indicate underlying CHB include clinical evidence of existing liver disease, such as cirrhosis or HCC or where there is unexplained liver disease, including abnormal liver function tests or liver ultrasound. d In all settings, it is recommended that HBsAg serological testing with hepatitis B vaccination of those who are HBsAg negative and not previously vaccinated be offered to all children with parents or siblings diagnosed with HBV infection or with clinical suspicion of hepatitis, through community- or facility-based testing
Also Featured In
This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:
WHO guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing.