title: Hepatitis B surface antigenemia in blood donors following vaccination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in recently vaccinated adults has not previously been reported. Transient detectable HBsAg has been observed in newborn infants immunized with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 1-year period, eight HBsAg-positive blood donors mentioned during donor notification that they had been vaccinated for hepatitis B virus 1 to 3 days before donation. Follow-up tests for HBsAg, antibodies to HBsAg, and antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen were performed 3 to 37 weeks after immunization. Four months later, a group of 19 donors who were coworkers received hepatitis B vaccination and then donated blood the next day. The coworkers were observed for duration of antigenemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of nine cases of transient, confirmed (neutralizable) antigenemia occurred in healthy individuals who donated blood 1 to 3 days following vaccination with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Follow-up testing showed no evidence of infection by hepatitis B virus. One (5.3%) of 19 blood donors vaccinated as a group had antigenemia at Day 1 but not on Days 2 and 3 following immunization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals recently vaccinated for hepatitis B may test positive for HBsAg and become permanently disqualified as blood donors. Therefore, blood collection centers should consider temporary deferral of potential donors who recently received hepatitis B vaccine.
authors.affiliation: American Red Cross Blood Services, St. Paul Region, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kloster
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eastlund
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zarvan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic