I'd promised I'd post to the lists the response I received from a virologist
re: stability of viral load tests for HepB
I spoke with Howard Thomas who is chair of the DoH's expert advisory group
on HepB
The EAG considered that a health care worker becomes an infection risk when
viral load exceeds 10 to the power of 4.5.
They set the Threshold limit for surgeons at 10 to the power of 3 because:
* Viral load can vary in an individual by a magnitude of 1
* The Viral load test has an accuracy limit of ½ an order of
magnitude.
So, if a persons viral load result is less than 10 to the power of three the
danger that their load may drift up to a dangerous level is very small.
Annual re-testing remains a sensible precaution.
Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
Director of Occupational Health
Occupational Health Service
Imperial College Health Centre
Watts Way
London
SW7 1 LU
Tel: 020 7594 9385
Fax: 020 7594 9407
Mob: 07904 104679
http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/ <http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/>
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