Risk of hepatitis B exposure in regional blood services

The incidence of positive tests for anti-HBs in 464 staff members of regional blood services between 1980 and 1983 (5.4%) was closer to that in the general population than to that in hospital staffs. Only two of the employees at risk developed antibodies during this interval, but neither seroconversion was attributable to employment in the regional blood center. The administration of hepatitis B vaccine, a recommendation based on data from health care workers potentially exposed to patient samples, may not be pertinent to regional blood center staff members potentially exposed only to volunteer donor products.