Hepatitis B surface antigen in spinal fluid

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of five of nine leukemia patients with HBsAg-positive sera. These five CSF samples were shown to be free of occult blood using a sensitive hemoglobin extraction technique. The presence of HBsAg in CSF was unrelated to cranial irradiation, prior lumbar punctures, or current chemotherapy. The findings indicate that many blood-free CSF specimens from HBsAg-positive patients, as well as all blood-contaminated specimens, contain detectable HBsAg. This suggests that CSF from patients who are HBsAg-positive should be handled with care, as it may be capable of transmitting hepatitis B to health care personnel caring for these patients and laboratory personnel handling their specimens.