Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. Approximately 5-10% of adults and 90% of babies who are infected with HBV will go on to carry the virus for the rest of their lives. These people will pass the virus onto others. HBV is excreted in body fluids such as semen, saliva, blood and urine in persons with acute or chronic infection. The route of transmission can include homosexual or heterosexual activity, blood-borne exposure (needles, transfusion), mother-infant, close personal contact and even by consuming contaminated food or water. Thus, Hepatitis B has become a major public health concern. When HBV invades the body it causes liver damage through induction of auto-immunity. Liver cell injury results from cytotoxic T cell activity rather than viral cytotoxic activity. The principal screening test for detecting current (acute or chronic) HBV infection is the identification of HBsAg, an envelope lipoprotein. This is the first immunological marker to appear in a patient
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