Results of the Hepatitis B Screening on April 1st, 2007
Ts Dược Khoa Trần Bình, Pharm.D.

From: Binh Tran <btran.aphc@...>
Results of the Hepatitis B Screening on April 1st, 2007
Dear Sponsors, Members and Participants at the Hep B Screening Event,
I am relying the report of the results of the screenings performed on April 1st.
In the attachments, please see:
1. the Data collection sheet.
2. Graph 1: Age range.
3. Graph 2 -4 (see each sheet of the spread-sheet).
4. Graph 5 -7 (see each sheet of the spread-sheet).
We thank Kristina Furrow, Director of the American Liver Foundation for her feedback on the report.
With best regards,
Binh Tran, PharmD
Executive Director
Asian Pacific Health Center
5871 University Ave, Ste # 334
San Diego, CA 92115
Ph: 619-582-2360; Fax: 619-582-2297
www.aphcenter.org
THINK B HEPATITIS SCREENING:
Results in San Diego
On April 1st, 2007, the Asian Pacific Health Center (APHC) and UCSD-Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA) members organized a Hepatitis B screening Day at the Quantum Adult Day Care Center on Convoy Street in San Diego. The event was sponsored jointly by the American Liver Foundation, the APAMSA and the California Medical Association.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
Fifty four persons were screened ranging in age >from 16 to 81. Subjects learned of the event by reading the ads in Vietnamese and Chinese newspapers, visiting the APHC, or by recommendation from family members, friends, and patients at the center.
Subjects filled a bilingual (English and Chinese) registration form that includes questions on demographics such as birth place and ethnicity, and risk factors such as occurrence of Hepatitis B and diagnosis of liver cancer among family members. Questions on the Hepatitis B carrier and immunization status were also asked.
Laboratory tests used were: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb). The blood samples were centrifuged on-site, and sent to Quest Diagnostics for testing.
One week after the screening day, the lab results were mailed with a letter explaining the significance of the tests to the persons being screened.
RESULTS:
Data regarding demographics and results of tests were collected and recorded on the attached spreadsheet (Data Collection Form).
Each data element was further tabulated, and presented in bar graphs as follows:
1. Age range (graph 1)
Patients in the 50 to 65 age range were the most numerous (17), followed by those in the 30-49 range (12). Only one 16-year old teen was tested
2. Gender (graph 2)
There were 25 men and 29 women.
3. Birth place (graph 3)
The majority of people were born in Viet Nam (37). The next group was the people born in China.
4. Ethnicity (graph 4)
The majority was also Vietnamese (39), followed by the Chinese group.
5. Occurrence of Hepatitis B and diagnosis of liver cancer in the family (graph 5).
Twelve persons have family members who have Hepatitis B, 39 persons do not have any, and 3 did not answer.
Three persons have family members diagnosed with liver cancer, and the rest (49) reported none.
6. Hepatitis B carrier and immunization status (graph 6)
Six subjects knew that they were Hepatitis B carriers; 45 did not know, and 3 did not answer.
Sixteen have been vaccinated, and 34 were not.
7. Test results (graph 7).
The 3 cases were determined as follows:
Case 1: HBsAg (-) and HBsAb (-): 13 persons were in this group. The person does not have chronic hepatitis B infection, and is not a hepatitis B carrier. The person has no immunity against hepatitis B infection, thus needs to be vaccinated.
Case 2: HBsAg (-) and HBsAb (+): 33 patients were in this group. The subject is not a carrier, and has developed immunity due to past infection or vaccination. No vaccination is needed. We recommend that the family members are screened for Hepatitis B.
Case 3: HBsAg (+) and HBsAb (-): The subject has either acute (temporary) hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis B infection. In Asians, a positive HBsAg most often indicates chronic hepatitis B infection. People infected with chronic hepatitis B are also referred to as hepatitis B carriers. The person also has no immunity against hepatitis B infection.
8 persons were in this group, with one showing HBsAb (+).
DISCUSSION AND FOLLOW-UP:
Patients who showed positive results were contacted by telephone to further explain their condition. Among the 8 patients, 3 already knew they were Hepatitis B carriers. Among the 3, one knew it for several years, but did not take any action. They were sent to their primary care physicians, seen at the APHC for more testing, or referred to GI specialists
There was a majority of Vietnamese people (7 out of 8). The other patient was Chinese.
The number of positive results, a rough percentage of 15%, reflects the rate reported in the literature concerning the prevalence of hepatitis B in the Asian population.
However the number of the test samples was small. More wide spread screenings is needed to generate data with statistical significance.
Reported by Binh N. Tran, Pharm.D.
Executive Director
Asian Pacific Health Center
April 19, 2007