Hep B

Question 1

What is the incubation period of Hep B

Answer 1

6 weeks to 6 month

Question 2

What is the median incubation time

Answer 2

2.5 months

Question 3

Complications of Hep B

Answer 3

Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular carcinoma

Question 4

How is Hep B transmitted

Answer 4

Mother to child, blood, sexual contact

Question 5

Hep B in the dental surgery

Answer 5

Contaminated sharps, blood & saliva contamination of open wounds, HBV is stable on environmental surfaces

Question 6

Protection of HBV in dental practice

Answer 6

PPE, Vaccination, cross infection

Question 7

What is the Hep B vaccine composed of

Answer 7

HbSAg

Question 8

Antigens in the Hep B virus

Answer 8

HbsAg, HbcAg, HbeAg

Question 9

What is an antigen

Answer 9

A molecule that produces an immune response

Question 10

Two types of antibodies

Answer 10

IgM, IgG

Question 11

What does each antibody show

Answer 11

IgM - Initial antibody made, recent infection

IgG - After B cells refine, infection was some time ago

Question 12

What does HBsAg in the blood show

Answer 12

Infectivity of blood

Question 13

What does HBeAg in the blood show

Answer 13

Active infection and high transmissibility

Question 14

What does HBcAg in the blood show

Answer 14

Does not appear in serum as it is contained within the viral envelope

Question 15

What does HBcAb IgM in the blood show

Answer 15

Early stages of infection

Question 16

What does HBcAb IgG in the blood show

Answer 16

Appears after IgM and remains for life - infection was some time ago

Question 17

What does HBeAb in the blood show

Answer 17

Naturally acquired HBV infection

Question 18

What antibody level is considered protective

Answer 18

10 international units/ litre or above (IU/L) - long term protection
Less than this = not protective