title: Nationwide large survey on hepatitis B surface antigen quantification use in real-life clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B surface antigen quantification (qHBsAg) is a relevant biomarker assay in the therapeutic management of hepatitis B virus-infected patients; however, little is known about its use in France. The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge of qHBsAg use and the indications for the prescription of qHBsAg in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 2014 to May 2014, 135 questionnaires were sent to hepatologists and gastroenterologists from several health centers (private practice, public practice, and outlying health centers). There were 20 items in each questionnaire on the use of qHBsAg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-six percent of the practitioners had previously used qHBsAg, among whom 88% had prescribed the use of qHBsAg before treatment, 73% had prescribed the use of qHBsAg in combination with hepatitis B virus viral load, 64% had prescribed the use of qHBsAg at week 12 or week 24 of treatment, 62% had prescribed the use of qHBsAg for stopping rules, and 49% had prescribed the use of qHBsAg to identify inactive carriers. The reason for nonprescription of qHBsAg was mainly because of difficulty accessing the test (50% of the practitioners), followed by nonreimbursement of the test (27%); 97% of the practitioners who did not prescribe qHBsAg indicated an interest in accessing the test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey describes the characteristics of the prescription of qHBsAg in France. More than three out of four practitioners have previously used qHBsAg. The use of the qHBsAg just before treatment was the main reason for prescription. The main reason for nonprescription was because of difficulty in accessing the test.
authors.affiliation: European Hospital of Marseille - Alphabio Laboratory, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Halfon
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Penaranda
authors.forename: Sofiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camus
authors.forename: Hacène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khiri
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis; D005602:France; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000191:economics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens