Maternal hepatitis B screening practices--California, Connecticut, Kansas, and United States, 1992-1993.

Each year in the United States, an estimated 22,000 infants are born to women with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. These infants are at high risk for perinatal HBV infection and chronic liver disease as adults. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Practice, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices each have recommended that all pregnant women be routinely tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during an early prenatal visit in each pregnancy to identify newborns who require immunoprophylaxis for the prevention of perinatal HBV infection (1-4). To evaluate progress in implementing this recommendation, surveys were conducted to assess the effectiveness of maternal HBsAg screening in three states--California, Connecticut, and Kansas--and a sample of hospitals in the United States.