SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH


Laboratories performing HBV testing must notify the relevant State and Territory health authorities of any new HBsAg-positive laboratory diagnosis in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulations. In some States and Territories medical practitioners must also notify the relevant State and Territory health authorities.

Where information is available to identify newly acquired HBV infection, such as detection of HBsAg in a person shown to be negative within the last 24 months; or detection of HBsAg and IgM to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc), in the absence of prior evidence of HBV infection; or detection of HBV by nucleic acid testing, and IgM anti-HBc, in the absence of prior evidence of HBV infection, these cases should be reported to the local State or Territory health authorities as a case of newly acquired HBV infection.38