Hepatitis B virus infections in laboratory staff.

Auckland Hospital laboratory staff were tested on three occasions over a 9 month period for the presence of hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs). Over 20 percent of technical staff were seropositive for one of these markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, this proportion being significantly higher than that found in new blood donors or in staff from a laboratory not handling blood samples. Asymptomatic infection with the HBV virus, as assessed by seroconversion changes of HBsAg to anti-HBS status, was detected in some staff members. The number of staff positive for HBsAg or anti-HBS increased with both age and length of period of employment in laboratory work. The results indicate that subclinical HBV infections are occurring in laboratory staff and the present procedures in the care and handling of blood specimens may require review and improvement.