title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and hepatitis B surface antibody status among laboratory health care workers in Isfahan, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laboratory health care workers (HCWs) may become infected through their occupation with blood-borne pathogens. The aims of this study were determining the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the protection offered by HBV vaccine in medical laboratory HCWs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 203 employers of clinical laboratories. Participant data were obtained through a questionnaire, and the level of antigens and antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the subjects were negative for HBV infection. Forty-seven (23.2%) were not immune, 126 (62.0%) were relatively immune, and 30 (14.8%) were highly immune.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis B infection is infrequent in laboratory HCWs in Isfahan.
authors.affiliation: Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shoaei
authors.affiliation: Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najafi
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Noushin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lotfi
authors.affiliation: Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vakili
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataei
authors.affiliation: Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaran
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Rezvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shafiei
keywords: Health care worker; hepatitis B infection; occupational exposure