Viral Hepatitis: Notification After Exposure

Key points

This page provides guidance for testing for bloodborne pathogens and communication tools for notifying patients and the public of potential exposures. CDC staff are always available for consultation to discuss testing algorithms for specific notification settings.

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Recommended tests

There may be recommendations for bloodborne pathogen screening as part of the notification process that will depend on the risk of transmission.

Suggested tests may vary according to the recency and likelihood of exposure and typically include the below recommendations.

Hepatitis B testing

For hepatitis B, consider serologic testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), as well as testing for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (total anti-HBc) to determine infection and immunity status.

Note: In March 2023, CDC published updated recommendations for hepatitis B screening and testing among adults that now include recommendations for one-time hepatitis screening for all adults with a triple panel test (HBsAg, anti-HBs, and total anti-HBc).

Hepatitis C testing

Initiate hepatitis C testing with a hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test with reflex to NAT for HCV RNA if the antibody test is positive/reactive.

For more information on identifying HCV infection, see the HCV recommended testing sequence.

CDC recommends that all samples needed to diagnose hepatitis C be collected in a single visit. See the Updated Operational Guidance for Implementing CDC's Recommendations on Testing for Hepatitis C Virus Infection | MMWR.

Re-test after 6 months has passed‎

For hepatitis B and hepatitis C it may take up to 6 months or more for recent infections to be serologically detectable. To identify all potential infections, the clinician should re-test after 6 months has passed from last exposure.

Notification guidance and toolkits

  • Patient Notification Toolkit
    • This is a communications framework for state and local health departments to use for public notification as part of public health response to possible bloodborne pathogen exposures in a variety of health care settings.
  • Framework for Healthcare-Associated Infection Outbreak Notification
    • This contains guidance for notification in the context of a suspected health-associated infection outbreak, developed by the Council for Outbreak Response: Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens.

CDC is always available for consultation at any point in the process. Contact us!

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Content Source:
Division of Viral Hepatitis