Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
04:11

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA

Published on: December 15, 2023

Variability of hepatitis B testing in British Columbian ESRD patients: the case to focus on implementation of

Monica Beaulieu1, Mel Krajden, Jane Buxton

  • 1Division of Nephrology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. monicabe@interchange.ubc.ca

American Journal of Kidney Diseases : the Official Journal of the National Kidney Foundation
|July 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) retesting in dialysis patients shows significant practice variations. Only 50% receive appropriate monitoring, indicating a need for standardized protocols to improve care and reduce costs.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization is standard in dialysis units.
  • Follow-up testing and booster dose recommendations for HBV in dialysis patients lack standardization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe HBV testing variations in British Columbia dialysis centers.
  • To propose an evidence-based HBV follow-up testing protocol.
  • To compare current practices with the proposed protocol.

Main Methods:

  • Quality improvement report analyzing a provincial dialysis cohort (n=1,055).
  • Data collected on HBV test frequency by center and dialysis modality.
  • Guidelines were reviewed to develop a standardized protocol.

Main Results:

  • Significant variations in HBV testing frequency were observed across centers and dialysis types (P < 0.001).
  • Only 50% of patients received recommended HBV retesting; 37% were tested excessively.
  • Hemodialysis and HBV-infected patients were tested more frequently than recommended.

Conclusions:

  • Current HBV retesting practices in dialysis patients are inconsistent, with 50% adherence to an evidence-based protocol.
  • Over-testing occurs in hemodialysis and HBV-infected patients, suggesting potential cost savings through protocol adherence.
  • Implementing a standardized protocol is crucial for appropriate patient monitoring and resource optimization.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques11:28

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques

Published on: March 13, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...
Hepatitis01:25

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
Methods of Documentation V: CBE01:23

Methods of Documentation V: CBE

Charting by Exception, or CBE, is a method of documentation used in healthcare, particularly in nursing, that focuses on documenting only significant or abnormal findings rather than recording every detail. This approach aims to streamline the documentation process, improve efficiency, and ensure that healthcare providers can quickly identify deviations from normalcy in patient assessments.
In CBE, healthcare professionals establish predefined standards of practice that define what constitutes...
Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction01:28

Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction

Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...