title: Hepatitis B antigen screening in South Australian and Northern Territory blood donors.
abstract: A standard counterelectrophoresis method has been used to screen almost 250,000 samples from South Australian and Northern Territory blood donors since 1971. The initial incidence of approximately one hepatitis B antigen positive donor per thousand has diminished as these donors have been excluded from further blood donation. There is a predominance of males in the series, and more of the hepatitis B antigen carriers are in the younger age groups than expected. A higher than expected incidence of hepatitis B antigen positives has been noted in Northern Territory donors. Follow-up of donors found to be hepatitis B antigen positive has shown that the majority remain positive for more than two years without developing overt hepatitis. These individuals may represent a long-term asymptomatic carrier state.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001782:Blood Donors; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens