Testing is not required in every case before receiving the hepatitis B vaccine.
However, for adults, individuals with potential exposure risks, or those suspected of having been previously infected with the hepatitis B virus, a doctor may recommend testing to determine whether the person is currently infected, already immune, or not yet immune. The results help guide the most appropriate vaccination or follow-up plan and may prevent unnecessary vaccination in individuals who already have immunity.
Regular testing is generally recommended for people with ongoing risk factors, such as working in healthcare settings, living with someone who has viral hepatitis, or having unprotected sex with a partner who may be infected.
For people who have viral hepatitis or are undergoing treatment, regular testing as advised by a doctor is important for monitoring disease progression and evaluating treatment effectiveness. In chronic hepatitis B, liver enzymes and HBV DNA may need to be monitored every 3 – 6 months, together with abdominal ultrasound and AFP testing every 6 months to support liver cancer surveillance.
According to CDC, pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B during each pregnancy, particularly at the first prenatal visit.
Testing helps detect infection early, assess the risk of mother-to-child transmission, support appropriate pregnancy management, and guide preventive measures for the newborn after delivery.
- Pregnant women with an HBV DNA level above 200,000 IU/mL may require antiviral therapy starting from 24 – 28 weeks of pregnancy.
- Infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers should receive hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) together with the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours after birth. This preventive approach has been shown to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission by more than 90%.
No. DIAG’s viral hepatitis testing packages currently cover hepatitis A, B, and C only.
However, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) recommends screening for hepatitis D at least once using an anti-HDV test in individuals at risk of viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B. Coinfection with multiple hepatitis viruses can lead to more rapid disease progression.


