Intrapartum hepatitis B screening in a low-risk population.
Intrapartum hepatitis B surface antigen testing was performed on all laboring patients admitted to Forsyth Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from December, 1988 through November, 1989. Of the 5580 patients tested, eight patients had test results positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (overall prevalence rate of 0.14%). HBsAg was present in 0.3% of public patients and 0.08% of private patients. Of the seven patients who were not known to be positive for hepatitis B surface antigen before pregnancy, three had identifiable risk factors for hepatitis B virus. The time interval from birth to administration of hepatitis B immune globulin in the newborn averaged 13.3 hours. Patient cost per new case detected was $13,203. Intrapartum hepatitis B surface antigen screening with an assay performed once daily allows for timely administration of hepatitis B immune globulin to the newborn in accordance with recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, although some newborns receive hepatitis B immune globulin after the 12-hour birth-to-administration interval recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
J M
JM
Ernest
L B
LB
Givner
R
R
Pool
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012307:Risk Factors
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens