Key messages
- Consider screening patients from countries with a higher prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus ( HCV) than the UK, particularly those where the prevalence of HBV and HCV is considerably higher or if other risk factors apply
- Screening of contacts of HBV and HCV infected patients should also be considered
- Individuals identified as positive should be referred for specialist assessment
Anyone at risk of hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection should be offered a hepatitis test, this includes:
- Children born to mothers with HBV who are HBsAG positive and/or with HCV who are HCV RNA positive
- Partners and individuals living in close contact with someone who is infected with HBV and/or HCV
- Recipients of unscreened blood transfusion or blood products
- People from countries where hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C is endemic
- Anyone who has injected drugs, even if it was only once
- People who may have had unsterile medical or dental procedures abroad
- People involved in high risk sexual practices especially with a person who is HBV and/or HCV positive
- Men who have sex with men
- People who may have had ear piercing, body piercing, tattooing or acupuncture with unsterile equipment
- Consider for any patient with abnormal liver function tests (LFT), especially elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Other useful information
Contact number for Hepatitis Network
028 961 55725 or 028 961 55569
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis B&C - Information and guidance in the occupational setting
- E-learning for health care professionals
- Substance misuse- Management in general practice - A network to support members of the primary health care team who work with substance misuse in the UK.