Hepatitis B - Whole Blood and Components

Essential information

Definition/s

HBV: Hepatitis B virus

HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen

Anti-HBs: Antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen

Anti-HBc: Antibody against hepatitis B core antigen

Active hepatitis B infection refers to an individual with circulating HBsAg and/or HBV DNA. This term includes acute and chronic hepatitis B infection.

Recovered hepatitis B infection refers to an individual who was previously diagnosed with hepatitis B infection but has subsequently cleared HBV from their circulation.

Current exposure refers to an individual who has recent household or sexual contact with an individual with active or recovered hepatitis B infection. ‘Recent’ is defined as the last 4 months for household contacts or the last 3 months for sexual contacts.

Previous exposure refers to an individual who has been a household contact more than 4 months ago, or a sexual contact more than 3 months ago, of someone with active or recovered hepatitis B infection.

The longer time period specified for household contact is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations (BSQR).

Hepatitis B (HBV) testing, unless otherwise stated, refers to routine HBsAg and pooled HBV DNA (NAT) testing.

Obligatory

Scenarios

Active or recovered HBV infection
Includes
Excludes
Obligatory

Must not donate.

This includes donors who are identified as anti-HBc positive by Blood Transfusion Service testing.

Discretionary
  1. If:
    1. the history of HBV infection is not certain, and
    2. it is more than 12 months from recovery, and
    3. a test for Anti-HBc will be performed, accept for donation or take samples for testing, as directed by local procedures.
  2. If the donor has been tested previously by the Blood Transfusion Service and no new risks are disclosed, accept.
Additional information

Post session review of results:

1. anti-HBc positive donors:

Must not donate.

2. anti-HBc negative donors who reported hepatitis B infection. If:

  • more than 12 months from recovery, and
  • The donor is negative for all markers (HBsAg, screening HBV DNA and anti-HBc negative)

accept.

Individuals with current exposure to someone with active HBV infection
Includes
Excludes
Individuals with current exposure to someone with recovered HBV infection
Includes
Excludes
Individuals with previous exposure to someone with active or recovered HBV infection
Includes
Excludes
Individuals undergoing HBV immunisation
Includes
Excludes
Reason for change:
The deferral after HBV immunisation has been increased.
Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 87 (28 August 2025)