title: [Use of serological markers of hepatitis B and C viruses in a health center].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find the use of serological markers for the Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) viruses by doctors at an urban Health Centre, assessing the number of requests and their diagnostic effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective and retrospective study of observation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary Care. Urban Health Centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  All those for whom requests for HBV and HCV serological markers were made between 1.1.92 and 30.3.93.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 131 requests for HBV markers and 82 for HVC ones were made during the study period (1% of the total analyses performed). 30.5% of the HBV markers and 12.2% of the HCV ones were positive. 36% of the requests for HBV markers were for preventive as against 64% for diagnostic reasons. The diagnostic effectiveness (percentage of positives among the requests made for diagnostic reasons) was 35.7% for HBV and 13% for HCV serology. The manner of contagion could not be determined from the information collected in the clinical notes for 56% of the patients with positive serology. The performance of a Hepatic Biopsy was recorded for 10% of the patients with positive HBV or HCV serology, with diagnoses of 4 cases of active chronic Hepatitis and one of late cutaneous Porphyria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The availability of an accessible and correct request form for HBV and HCV markers could assist greater diagnostic accuracy and referral to specialists if required.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud La Paz, Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Badajoz.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buitrago
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mencia Bartolomé
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanco-Ovejero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-Lozano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies
vernacular_title: Utilización de marcadores serológicos del virus de la hepatitis B y C en un centro de salud.