Hepatitis B serology in 1000 VD clinic attenders.

One thousand consecutive sera from individual patients attending the Christchurch venereal disease clinic were examined for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti HBs) and antigen (HBsAg). There were 682 males and 318 females. 182 (18.2 percent) were anti HBs positive, 126 (18.5 percent) males and 56 (17.6 percent) females. 18 (1.8 percent) were HBsAg positive, 14 (2.1 percent) males and four (1.3 percent) females. The risks of clinic staff contracting hepatitis are discussed.