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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and the management of HBV‐infected health care workers
Author(s) -
Van Der Eijk A. A.,
De Man R. A.,
Niesters H. G. M.,
Schalm S. W.,
Zaaijer H. L.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2005.00644.x
Subject(s) - hepatitis b virus , virology , medicine , hepatitis b , hepatitis virus , virus
Summary. Different guidelines exist for the management of hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐infected health care workers (HCWs). Various HBV DNA levels are used as a cutoff level to determine whether an HBV‐infected HCW is allowed to perform exposure‐prone procedures (EPPs) or not. In this paper we discuss the factors that determine HBV DNA levels and the implications of different HBV DNA cutoff levels for EPP performing HCWs. If the level of HBV DNA in the serum of HCWs is used to determine acceptability for the conduct of EPPs, it is necessary to take into account the variability in time of HBV DNA levels in HBV carriers and the reliability and reproducibility of the molecular diagnostic test involved. The issue of standardization has to be addressed, before a universal, maximum level of viraemia for EPP performing HCWs can be introduced.