Blood tests before Hep. A and B vaccinations?

[Elegiaque]

Hi, I've recently arrived in HK and visited my doctor about getting a Hep. B vaccination. She wanted me to first have a blood test done to test for antigens/antibodies of Hep. B, which seems to be a standard proceedure here in HK before receiving these vaccinations. My partner is in a similar situation, but he will also need Hep. A.

I've never had a blood transfusion and feel the likelyhood of having been exposed to Hep. B is basically nil. The test costs $300.

Does anyone have experience with this? In Western countries do they also first do a blood test? I'm inclined to skip the test, which the doctor said she would be willing to accept.

[Gruntfuttock]

I've never had a blood transfusion and feel the likelyhood of having been exposed to Hep. B is basically nil.

Eh? You know the Hep B status of everyone you've ever slept with?

[hongkong7]

Short answer is ideally you test your status before hepatitis b vaccination :having said that if you vaccinate anyway without pre testing and are already antigen (or antibody )positive you will not have any ill effects

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[HowardCoombs]

having said that if you vaccinate anyway without pre testing and are already antigen (or antibody )positive you will not have any ill effects

ummm, no!

All vaccines have a list of potential side effects. Some small, some large, some likely, some not so likely, some minor and some very major (ie death).

If a vaccine is not necessary (you already have what you need), why take the chance with complications?

[MCDC]

It is pretty standard to test before you vaccinate. Why go through a series of vaccines that your body might not even need and (as HC already said) come with potential side effects? Blood transfusions are not the only method of getting hepatitis.

[Elegiaque]

Ok, thanks for the replies.

I didn't realize it was standard to test before getting vaccinations -- perhaps it's just Hep A and B that really pose this problem of previous exposure.

MCDC, why subject yourself to an awful blood test of having your blood withdraw when it's unnecessary? *shiver* I dislike blood tests! Can handle shots...

[Claire ex-ax]

Each of the hep vacs require a couple of doses, so if you don't need them...

[hongkong7]

Your doctor is not testing you because she is worried about previous exposure :its called opportunistic testing for hepatitis b so you can get treatment for what is a silent disease in the carrier state and now quite treatable :the recombinant vaccine have no viral particles so are safer than your annual flu shot and who tests for flu antibodies to the circulating strain even though it's possible to do that .because hepatitis a does not have a carrier state you can just have the shot which will act like a booster if you already have naturally acquired immunity :





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