Screening for Viral Hepatitis

Screening is a method of finding out if you have hepatitis before you begin to have any symptoms. Screening involves:

Assessing your medical history and lifestyle habits that may increase your risk of hepatitis
Undergoing tests to identify early signs of hepatitis, including blood tests for hepatitis antigens and antibodies—Antigens are foreign proteins. Antibodies are proteins that your body has made to fight infectious agents.

Screening Guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends screening for hepatitis in pregnant women at their first prenatal visit and in people at high risk for the disease.

References

Viral hepatitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Available at: http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/hepatitis/index.asp . Updated October 15, 2010. Accessed January 19, 2011.

What I need to know about Hepatitis B. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. Available at: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepb%5Fez/index.htm . Published April 2009. Accessed January 19, 2011.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Daus Mahnke, MD
Review Date: 03/2013
Update Date: 00/31/2013

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.