Modern serologic techniques for the detection of HBsAg and Anti-HBs, particularly radioimmunoassay(R1A) and enzyme immunoassay(EIA), provided a technical foundation for more precise and sophisticated epidemiologic studies, of hepatitis B infection. Th...
Modern serologic techniques for the detection of HBsAg and Anti-HBs, particularly radioimmunoassay(R1A) and enzyme immunoassay(EIA), provided a technical foundation for more precise and sophisticated epidemiologic studies, of hepatitis B infection. Through a many study it has been revealed that the prevention and the control of hepatitis B infection have emerged as an urgent and serious problem in Korea. However, there are still some arguments on the prevalence rate, mode of transmission, control measures and so on, which hinder the development of certain countermeasures at national level.
The authors have conducted this study on a total of 4,125 freshmen of 1983 academic year in Korea University to analyse the prevalence of HBsAg and Anti-HBs positives detected by RPHA and PHA methods in relation to a variety of factors such as socio-demographic, vaccination, family history, personal hygiene, past history of liver diseases and etc.
The findings of the study were as follows;
1. Positive rates of HBsAg and Anti-HBs were 7.0 and 19.3% respectively. The rate for male was slightly higher than that of female.
2. In detecting HBsAg, sensitivity of RPHA against RIA method was 91.4% and specificity was 100% whereas sensitivity of PHA method was 51.9% and specificity was 88.9% respectively in detecting Anti-HBs. A question of false negative patient was raised in detecting Anti-HBs by PHA method.
3. Only two percent of HBsAg positive students were found to be acute hepatitis patients as a results of liver function test and 10% of them were thought to be in chronic state.
4. Among Anti-HBs Eegatives, the turn-out rate to positive after three times of vaccination with one of H-B-Vax and Hepavax were 61.0% by PHA method. But it was revealed to be 87.8% after reexamination of Anti-HBs negatives by the method of RIA.
5. The relationship of personal characteristics of subjects with the positive rate of HBsAg and Anti-HBs was analyzed. The communities with small population showed higher rates than ones with large population. For example, Cheju has shown the highest rate and was followed by Cholla Puk-Do and Kangwon-Do. In addition, the results suggested that the appearance of HBsAg and Anti-HBs associated with past history of liver diseases and family history of liver diseases, especially mother's past history.
6. Other factors including housing, past history of vaccination, skin test, acupuncture, behavior such as sharing tooth brush or razor with others and etc., have been reviewed but .there was no significant association with hepatitis B infection.