In 2015, an estimated 257 million people globally were living with chronic HBV infection that year, HBV caused an estimated 887,000 deaths. HBV is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Travelers could be exposed to HBV through poor infection control during dental or medical procedures, receipt of blood products, injection drug use, tattooing or acupuncture, or unprotected sex.
HBV is transmitted by contact with contaminated blood, blood products, and other body fluids (e.g., semen). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small, circular, partially double-stranded DNA virus in the family Hepadnaviridae. More information is available at CDC's Screening and Testing Recommendations for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection webpage.
A clinical laboratory certified in moderate complexity testing state health department or contact CDC by visiting Test Directory.
