Hepatitis B

A sexual health clinic can test you for this infection. You can also get tested for Hepatitis B at your GP or a drug treatment service. This involves a simple blood test.

Test results will show if you have the infection as early as 4 weeks after exposure.

No, you will need to check your levels of immunity some years after vaccination. The healthcare professional who gives you the vaccine will advise you when your immunity levels need checking.

Your GP, a sexual health clinic or occupational health department (if your occupation puts you at risk of infection).

Antiviral medication usually acts to prevent a virus from multiplying.

No.

Side effects are rare, but contact the person who gave you the vaccine at once (or attend an Emergency Department if the clinic is closed) if you have a serious side effect such as:

• Fever, sore throat and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• Irritability;
• Fast or pounding heartbeats;
• Easy bruising or bleeding.

Less serious side effects include:

• Redness, pain, swelling, or a lump where the injection was given;
• Headache, dizziness;
• Low fever;
• Joint pain, body aches;
• Tired feeling;
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhoea.

They will be able to tell if you have symptoms of the infection but not if you don’t. However, it is important that you tell your partner(s) since you may pass or have passed the infection to them. They may also be the source of the infection but be unaware.