Abstract
Objective.
The goals of this study were to estimate seroprevalence of prior hepatitis B infection among high-risk adolescents and to determine the cost-effectiveness of prevaccination immunity screening.
Methods.
The authors computed a “break-even” seroprevalence level calculated from current vaccine and administration costs. They then conducted a seroprevalence study of hepatitis B core antibody using sera previously submitted for syphilis serology from four-hundred adolescent and adult clients of sexually transmitted disease clinics. Finally, the authors compared age group-specific seroprevalence rates to the computed break-even seroprevalence.
Results.
Levels of prior hepatitis B infection for all age groups were lower than the break-even seroprevalence standard from which cost-effectiveness was calculated.
Conclusions.
From the findings of this study, the authors concluded that routine preimmunization screening for prior hepatitis B infection would not be cost-effective for this population.