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Prevalence of hepatitis B anti-core antibody in the Republic of Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2001

T. O'CONNELL ,
L. THORNTON ,
D. O'FLANAGAN ,
A. STAINES ,
J. CONNELL ,
S. DOOLEY  and
G. McCORMACK
T. O'CONNELL
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Dr Steevens Hospital, Dublin 8
L. THORNTON
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Dr Steevens Hospital, Dublin 8
D. O'FLANAGAN
Affiliation:
National Disease Surveillance Centre, Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, Dublin 2
A. STAINES
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine, University College Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
J. CONNELL
Affiliation:
Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4
S. DOOLEY
Affiliation:
Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4
G. McCORMACK
Affiliation:
Virus Reference Laboratory, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4
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Abstract

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The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B exposure in the population of the Republic of Ireland, by measuring the prevalence of hepatitis B anti-core antibody in oral fluid collected by postal survey.

A random multi-stage stratified sample of Irish households was obtained, using the Irish electoral register as the sampling frame. A total of 962 households were selected, and a household response rate of 60·4% was achieved. Oral fluid specimens totalling 1714 were tested for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), using an Immune Capture Enzyme Immuno-Assay. Five specimens (0·29%) were found to contain anti-HBc. Adjusting for study design, the estimated anti-HBc prevalence in the Republic of Ireland is 0·51%.

This study demonstrates that self-collection of oral fluid samples is acceptable to the public, and based upon the data generated, that the Republic of Ireland has a low prevalence of hepatitis B infection.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 125 , Issue 3 , December 2000 , pp. 701 - 704
Copyright
2000 Cambridge University Press