PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN IN A DENTAL SCHOOL PATIENT POPULATION

Abstract

A sample of 300 adult patients accepted for initial treatment between January 5th and 24th, 1977 at the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry had blood samples drawn and analyzed by radioimmunoassay+ for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg). Two patients were positive for HBSAg (a prevalence of .67 percent. Medical questionnaire information obtained from each participant indicated that 11 patients had had hepatitis; seven were confirmed by the patients' private physicians. Both patients positive for HBSAg gave confirmed histories of having had hepatitis. The information gathered tends to indicate that dental patients who give a history of hepatitis should have a blood sample drawn and analyzed by radioimmunoassay for HBSAg to determine whether they are carriers of HBSAg. This analysis should precede any dental treatment. Further studies are planned to obtain information from another sample population.