Viral hepatitis is one of the world's most common viral illnesses.
The role of saliva in the transmission of hepatitis B makes dental personnel particularly vulnerable to this infection. A study in Compendium, 3/2012, compared a group of known seropositive hepatitis B patients to a control group without the disease. The HBsAg (hepatitis specific antigen) was found in the saliva of 74.9% of the seropositive patients. The saliva in the control group was accurate in 100% of the patients. The conclusion of the study was that saliva collection is easy and non-invasive and an accurate method of detection of the hepatitis specific antigen.
This is another example of how salivary diagnostics is becoming a more frequent method for finding disease.
Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomat, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309
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