Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
11:28
Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques
Published on: March 13, 2015
40.6K
Detection of Hepatitis D Virus: Performance in the Community
Sophia Eilat-Tsanani1,2, Amal Zoubi3, Rawi Hazzan4
1Department of Family Medicine, Clalit Health Services, Northern Region, Nof Hagalil, Israel.
The Israel Medical Association Journal : IMAJ
|August 16, 2022
Summary
Hepatitis D virus testing is recommended for those with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), but uptake remains low. Targeted interventions are needed, especially considering Israel
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection severity is linked to the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV).
- HDV utilizes hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) for replication, necessitating HDV testing in HBsAg-positive individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 9-year performance of hepatitis D virus blood test detection among hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients.
- To analyze testing patterns in a diverse population in northern Israel.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study utilizing Clalit Health Services database.
- Analysis of patient demographics and healthcare utilization for HBsAg-positive individuals.
Main Results:
- Out of 3367 HBsAg-positive individuals, only 613 (18%) were tested for HDV.
- Individuals tested for HDV were younger and had higher gastroenterology clinic visit rates.
- A trend suggested higher HDV positivity rates in the Ethiopian Jewish demographic group.
Conclusions:
- The recommended HDV testing rate among HBsAg-positive patients is significantly underutilized.
- Intervention strategies are crucial to improve HDV testing rates, particularly within Israel's ethnically diverse population.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Hepatitis
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...
01:28Viral 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...