Removal of hepatitis B surface antigen from a contaminated applanation tonometer.

Hepatitis B surface antigen was found in the conjunctival fluid of 43% of hepatitis B surface antigen carriers and could be detected on the tonometer tip after tonometry in one of four hepatitis B surface antigen carriers whose conjunctival fluid was positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. The Goldmann applanation tonometer tip was contaminated by immersion into solutions containing high concentrations of hepatitis B surface antigen (average 15,000 cpm). Prompt rinsing of the contaminated tonometer in running tap water for ten seconds proved sufficient to remove all detectable hepatitis B surface antigen from the tonometer.