Hepatitis B Testing in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

ASCO has issued a provisional clinical opinion recommending that selected patients at high risk for infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) be screened before receiving treatment with chemotherapy since there is a chance that an inactive infection could become active again with treatment that suppresses the immune system. A provisional clinical opinion offers direction to doctors and others who treat people with cancer after the publication or presentation of potentially practice-changing information.

“This new provisional clinical opinion is a useful tool for practicing oncologists who are facing the decision of whether and how to test their patients about to undergo chemotherapy for hepatitis B. Based on the best available evidence, it provides practical guidance on the issue of routine screening in this setting,” said Michael Neuss, MD, Chair, ASCO Clinical Practice Committee.