Adults 18+ Should Get Tested for Hepatitis B at Least Once
CDC recommends hepatitis B screening at least once in a lifetime for all adults 18 and older, and screening for all pregnant women during each pregnancy, preferably in the first trimester. CDC says getting tested is the only way to find out if you are infected, because many people with hepatitis B don’t look or feel sick.
CDC also says chronic hepatitis B can cause liver damage, liver cancer, liver failure and death; testing lets people who are infected get medical care and helps reduce the spread of the virus. This article follows CDC’s hepatitis B testing page: who should be tested, how testing works and what results mean. Health situations differ, so ask your health care provider if you have questions.
Who should be tested
CDC explains (CDC Testing for Hepatitis B):
- Adults 18 and older: get screened at least once in a lifetime.
- Pregnant women: get screened during each pregnancy, preferably in the first trimester.
- People at increased risk: people with a history of increased risk should be tested regardless of age, and those with ongoing risk should be tested periodically.
CDC calls a blood test for people not known to be at increased risk “screening,” and a blood test for people with symptoms or identified increased risk “testing.”
How testing works
- Talk to your doctor: to get tested for hepatitis B, talk to your doctor.
- Blood test: your doctor will order blood tests that look for proteins indicating hepatitis B virus infection.
- Ultrasound: if you have hepatitis B, your doctor may use an ultrasound to check your liver for damage.
What results mean
- Current infection: your doctor can tell whether you have acute or chronic hepatitis B.
- Immune from vaccination: results can also show that you are immune because you were vaccinated.
- Past infection that has resolved: in this case, you should be counseled by a health care provider.
- Next steps: if you have hepatitis B, your doctor will choose the best treatment for you and talk with you about staying healthy and preventing spread.
For whether to get the hepatitis B vaccine before visiting Taiwan, see Visiting Taiwan? See a Doctor a Month Out; Hep A, B Advised; for finding your adult vaccine records, see No National Vaccine Record Database, Ask Your State Registry; for choosing a primary doctor, see Pick a Primary Doctor First, HMOs Usually Need Referrals.
What this article doesn’t cover
- Who counts as high risk: the page gives no examples; guidance for providers is on another page that this article didn’t review.
- Vaccination if you’re not immune: the page doesn’t say, so this article doesn’t either.
- Treatment: CDC has a separate treatment page that this article didn’t review.
- Cost and insurance: the page doesn’t say, so this article doesn’t either.
FAQ
I feel healthy. Do I still need a test?
CDC recommends screening at least once for all adults 18 and older, and says many people with hepatitis B don’t look or feel sick.
I’ve been tested before. Do I need it again?
CDC says at least once in a lifetime, and people with ongoing risk should be tested periodically. Ask your health care provider about your situation.
How do I get tested?
CDC says to talk to your doctor, who will order a blood test.
Should I be tested if I’m pregnant?
Yes. CDC recommends screening during each pregnancy, preferably in the first trimester.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-11-01.
- CDC, Testing for Hepatitis B (page updated 2025-01-31):https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/testing/index.html