Hepatitis B screening in pregnant women in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia

Abstract

The principal screening test for maternal infection is the serologic identification test for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Data of HBsAg testing surveillance from all public and private laboratories in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, were collected. There were differences in the inclusion of pregnant women for HBsAg testing between the different counties in the province, ranging from 9% to 68% in Zapadnobački county and Severnobački county, respectively. Preventing perinatal transmission should be an important element in any national strategy for the control hepatitis B infection.

Keywords

• Hepatitis B
• pregnant women
• HBsAg screening