Worldwide, approximately 250 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), with the prevalence in South Africa being approximately 7%.1
HBV can be transmitted through perinatal transmission, horizontal transmission during childhood, percutaneous transmission, sexual exposure, or close person-to-person contact in the presence of open cuts and sores, as well as contaminated medical equipment 2,3.
Outbreaks of HBV in renal units are still reported, and often there is evidence that these have been caused by lapses in high standards of infection control practice 4. The most important method of prevention of transmission of blood borne viruses is the rigorous application of universal infection control precautions. These include hygienic precautions that effectively prevent the transfer of blood or fluids contaminated with blood between patients either directly or via contaminated equipment or surfaces 4
Testing for Hep B Virus