Hepatitis B antigen--a survey in a major metropolitan hospital

The prevalence of hepatitis B antigen in blood donors in the Wellington Hospital region is 0-27%. A retrospective survey of 66 persons found by the Wellington Hospital Laboratory to be hepatitis B antigen positive between September, 1971 and August, 1975, showed that over this period there has been a consistent decline in the number of new antigen positive cases found per year. This appears to be due to a decline in the numbers originating in the renal unit. A liver biopsy was taken in only one case and this showed chronic persisting hepatitis. Apart from the renal unit, high risk patients and staff are not tested regularly for hepatitis B antigen. Regular testing of laboratory staff and patients and staff of the cardiothoracic and haematology departments is recommended.