Removal of hepatitis B surface antigen from a contaminated applanation tonometer.
Hepatitis B surface antigen was found in the conjunctival fluid of 43% of hepatitis B surface antigen carriers and could be detected on the tonometer tip after tonometry in one of four hepatitis B surface antigen carriers whose conjunctival fluid was positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. The Goldmann applanation tonometer tip was contaminated by immersion into solutions containing high concentrations of hepatitis B surface antigen (average 15,000 cpm). Prompt rinsing of the contaminated tonometer in running tap water for ten seconds proved sufficient to remove all detectable hepatitis B surface antigen from the tonometer.
D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000009:adverse effects*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens