Should I get tested?
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Left unmanaged, hepatitis B can lead to serious liver disease such as liver failure and liver cancer.
There are 200,380 Australians living with hepatitis B, including 10,120 in South Australia.
3 in 10 Australians with hepatitis B don't know they have it.
You may have hepatitis B and not know it. The Hepatitis B virus is carried in the blood and in body fluids. Most people with chronic hepatitis B got it during birth from mothers who had hepatitis B, with people from regions of high prevalence at greater risk.
High prevalence regions include:
- East Asia
- South East Asia
- Remote Aboriginal communities
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Parts of South America
You can also get hepatitis B from:
- unprotected sex with someone with hepatitis B.
- open cuts or wounds that have been exposed to the blood of someone with the virus.
- medical, dental, tattooing, body art, or cosmetic procedures with unsterile equipment, especially in regions of high prevalence.
Consider getting tested if you don't know whether you have hepatitis B and:
- you or your family come from a region of high prevalence, or
- someone in your family or household has hepatitis B.
For more information on hepatitis B testing visit our Hepatitis B Testing page.
How do I get tested?
Ask your doctor for a test.
If you have hepatitis B and your family members have not been tested or vaccinated, talk to your doctor about testing for your family.
If you need help finding a GP, call Hepatitis SA on 1800 437 222 for a referral.
