@et5656 Everyone?
I know if you have HBV you are at risk of HDV but isn’t that under certain circumstances?
Sure, I think that people with known risk factors should be tested more often, but I know a guy who has HDV, and he doesn’t know when/where/how he got it. In the US at least, HDV is most common in injection drug users. There’s a lot of stigma around injection drug use, so people are often unwilling to disclose such behaviour to medical professionals, out of fear of being judged for it. I think that universal screening helps to reduce the stigma for those who are at higher risk. Plus, the test is not expensive.
Indeed, testing for HDV antibody shouldn’t be that expensive and it is part of clinical guidelines that everyone who is HBsAg-positive should be tested for HDV.
Thomas
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Regarding HDV testing, my serological test was “inconclusive” so my doc had to order a PCR test, which turned out as I suspected-Negative. Also, PCR test might be cheaper than serological test, if price is a factor.
Good luck.
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Update:
My hepatologist checked for HBeAg and anti-HBe.
Unfortunately HBeAg still positive and anti-HBe not detected.
Unfortunately disappointing since HBsAg is on the lower side. It is discouraging since seroconversion is moving in good direction, but I still might achieve it, if not it is still ok.
My viral load is suppressed and imaging of liver is good. I’m focusing on those results as a good sign.
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