Management of the Hepatitis B Exposed Infant
Click on the image to enlarge. Note: Providers should wait until the infant is 9 months of age, and at least one to two months after the last dose of HBV vaccine to perform the Post Vaccination Serologic Tests (PVST). Tests performed before 9 months of age can provide inaccurate anti-HBs results by detecting passive antibodies from HBIG/HBV vaccine administered at birth rather than actual respons
Click on the image to enlarge.
Note:
Providers should wait until the infant is 9 months of age, and at least one to two months after the last dose of HBV vaccine to perform the Post Vaccination Serologic Tests (PVST). Tests performed before 9 months of age can provide inaccurate anti-HBs results by detecting passive antibodies from HBIG/HBV vaccine administered at birth rather than actual response to the hepatitis B vaccine.
Refer if hepatitis B serology is not available.
| EPI | Expanded Programme on Immunisation |
| HBIG | hepatis B immunoglobulin |
| HBsAb | hepatitis B surface antibody |
| HBsAg | hepatitis B surface antigen |
| HBV | hepatitis B virus |
| PVST | post vaccination serologic tests |
South African National Department of Health, Guideline for Vertical Transmission Prevention of Communicable Infections, Version 2_August 2023