Prevalence of Serological Hepatitis B Markers in a Working Population in Hefei, China

Abstract

Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody (HBsAg and anti-HBs, respectively) prevalence was examined by means of solid-phase radioimmunoassay in 503 serum samples obtained from factory workers (230 men and 273 women) in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province, China, in 1985. The prevalence of HBsAg-positlve cases was 8% and that of anti-HBs-positive cases was 46%; the overall prevalence rate was 53% when the positivity in either of the two was considered to be indicative of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. There was no significant sex difference in the rate, whereas anti-HBs rate was slightly elevated in accordance with increased age. The review and evaluation of existing data in 14 articles led to a conclusion that the current HBV prevalence among Chinese populations will be in the range of 50% to 60%.