Vol. 501 No. 3
245 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Health and Children when the report of the results of the saliva test for hepatitis B will become available; the protocol for this test; and the individual leading the study. [6070/99]
A survey to determine the level of hepatitis B infection in the Irish population is currently being carried out by a joint team of public health doctors from the Eastern and North-Eastern Health Boards, the Department of Public Health Medicine in University College Dublin and the Virus Reference Laboratory in University College Dublin. The study is being led by a specialist in public health medicine from the Eastern Health Board.
The study involves the issuing of a salivary testing kit for hepatitis B IgG anti-core antibody by post to 2,000 persons and subsequent analysis of the samples provided by these persons. The testing is anonymous and unlinked. A preliminary report of the results of the study is expected to be available by the end of June 1999.
