title: A cost-effectiveness analysis of a simple micromethod for hepatitis B screening in hepatitis B virus control programmes.
abstract: We developed a simple micromethod for identifying mothers who are most likely to transmit hepatitis B infection to their infants, using reverse passive haemagglutination for detecting HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) in capillary blood. This screening method was evaluated against other strategies for hepatitis B control by means of decision- and cost-effectiveness analyses. The micromethod was shown to be cost-effective when the cost of hepatitis B vaccine was high. However, with increasingly reduced costs of the vaccine, it may have a limited role in a programme of mass immunization for hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Liver Study Group, University of the Philippines, College of Medicine, Manila.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lansang
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lingao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests / Q000191:economics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens