Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. 1. Please switch auto forms mode to off. 2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). 3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.

Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease

Menu
Menu
Quick Links
Veterans Crisis Line Badge
My healthevet badge
 

Pre-Vaccination Testing for Hepatitis B

for Health Care Providers

When and How to Perform Pre-Vaccination Testing - Hepatitis B

Which test to use: If testing is needed prior to vaccination, use HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb Total

  • Pre-vaccination testing should be performed if there is a reasonable chance the patient has previously been infected with HBV or vaccinated for HBV
  • Pre-vaccination testing is not always necessary but should be performed for some patient groups:
    • Household, sexual, or needle contacts of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive persons
    • HIV-positive persons
    • Persons with elevated alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase of unknown etiology
    • Hemodialysis patients
    • Men who have sex with men
    • Past or current persons who inject drugs
    • Persons born in countries of high and intermediate hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemicity (HBsAg prevalence ≥2%)
    • U.S.-born persons not vaccinated as infants whose parents were born in countries with high HBV endemicity (≥8%)
    • Persons needing immunosuppressive therapy, including chemotherapy, immunosuppression related to organ transplantation, and immunosuppression for rheumatologic or gastroenterologic disorders
    • Donors of blood, plasma, organs, tissues, or semen
return to top go