title: Hepatitis B surface antigen in spinal fluid.
abstract: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of five of nine leukemia patients with HBsAg-positive sera. These five CSF samples were shown to be free of occult blood using a sensitive hemoglobin extraction technique. The presence of HBsAg in CSF was unrelated to cranial irradiation, prior lumbar punctures, or current chemotherapy. The findings indicate that many blood-free CSF specimens from HBsAg-positive patients, as well as all blood-contaminated specimens, contain detectable HBsAg. This suggests that CSF from patients who are HBsAg-positive should be handled with care, as it may be capable of transmitting hepatitis B to health care personnel caring for these patients and laboratory personnel handling their specimens.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009780:Occult Blood; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens