The NHANES program suspended field operations in March 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As a result, data collection for the NHANES 2019-2020 cycle was not completed and the collected data are not nationally representative. Therefore, data collected from 2019 to March 2020 were combined with data from the NHANES 2017-2018 cycle to form a nationally representative sample of NHANES 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data. These data are available to the public. Please refer to the Analytic Notes section for more details on the use of the data.
Hepatitis viruses constitute a major public health problem because of the morbidity and mortality associated with the acute and chronic consequences of these infections. Because of the high rate of asymptomatic infection with these viruses, information about the prevalence of these diseases is needed to monitor prevention efforts. By testing a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population, NHANES provides the most reliable estimates of age-specific prevalence needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies to prevent these infections. In addition, NHANES provides the means to better define the epidemiology of other hepatitis viruses. NHANES testing for markers of infection with hepatitis viruses is used to determine secular trends in infection rates across most age and racial/ethnic groups and provides a national picture of the epidemiologic determinants of these infections.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver most often caused by a virus. Viral hepatitis is a major public health problem of global importance because of the ongoing transmission of viruses that cause the disease and increased morbidity and mortality associated with the acute and chronic consequences of these infections. Global and US goals have been established for elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 (HHS, 2020).
In the US, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, B, and C. Effective vaccines are available to help prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B. No vaccine is available for hepatitis C; however, highly effective, well-tolerated treatment can cure hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatitis D virus infection is less common in the US and can occur only among persons with hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis E infection also is less common in the US. These five hepatitis viruses, also called hepatitides, are well-characterized for detection with laboratory assays and are monitored in U.S. public health surveillance systems.
NHANES viral hepatitis data are used to monitor progress toward goals in Healthy People and the HHS Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan, which in turn support US and global viral hepatitis elimination goals. The viral hepatitis laboratory and interview components of NHANES complement data from outbreak, case-based surveillance, vital statistics, health care systems, and cohort studies that can provide timely, detailed, or longitudinal information for subnational geographic areas and disproportionately affected populations, such as persons experiencing homelessness or living in correctional facilities; however, these sources lack information available from NHANES, such as race, ethnicity, education, income, and health status and behaviors (HHS Healthy People, 2022 and National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, 2017).
Viral hepatitis data from NHANES are available beginning with the Second NHANES conducted during 1976-1980 for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, and with the Third NHANES conducted during 1988-1994 for hepatitis C, hepatitis D and hepatitis E.
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a cause of morbidity and socio-economic loss in many parts of the world. Transmission is typically via the fecal-oral route associated with contaminated water or food. In areas where sanitation is poor, infections often occur early in life. In childhood, HAV infection is generally mild or asymptomatic and results in lifelong immunity. With improved sanitation and hygiene, infections are delayed and consequently the number of adolescents and adults susceptible to the virus increases. In adolescents and adults, HAV infection is more serious leading to hepatitis and an increased mortality rate.
Anti-HAV IgM is detectable during the acute stage of illness, while anti-HAV IgG may be present for many years after recovery or following vaccination. The presence of anti-HAV (IgG or IgM) in human serum or plasma is indicative of past or present infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) or vaccination against HAV. The test for total anti-HAV is primarily used to determine exposure to HAV either naturally or due to vaccination. No test can differentiate between exposure naturally or due to vaccination.
The total anti-HAV test is used for the NHANES viral hepatitis component.
Examined participants aged 2 years and older in the NHANES 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic sample were eligible.
Hepatitis A antibody (anti-HAV) is measured using the VITROS Anti-HAV Total assay. The test is performed using the VITROS Immunodiagnostic Products Anti-HAV Total Reagent Pack and the VITROS Immunodiagnostic Products Anti-HAV Total Calibrator on the VITROS ECi/ECiQ or VITROS 3600 Immunodiagnostic System.
Refer to the Laboratory Method Files section for a detailed description of the laboratory methods used.
Hepatitis A Antibody Laboratory Procedure Manual (February 2020)
Hepatitis A Antibody Laboratory Procedure Manual (August 2022)
Serum specimens were processed, stored, and shipped to the Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA for analysis.
Detailed instructions on specimen collection and processing are discussed in the NHANES 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 Laboratory Procedures Manuals (LPMs). Vials were stored under appropriate frozen (–30°C) conditions until they were shipped to Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention for testing.
The NHANES quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols meet the 1988 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act mandates. Detailed QA/QC instructions are discussed in the NHANES LPMs.
Mobile Examination Centers (MECs)
Laboratory team performance is monitored using several techniques. NCHS and contract consultants use a structured competency assessment evaluation during visits to evaluate both the quality of the laboratory work and the QC procedures. Each laboratory staff member is observed for equipment operation, specimen collection and preparation; testing procedures and constructive feedback are given to each staff member. Formal retraining sessions are conducted annually to ensure that required skill levels were maintained.
Analytical Laboratories
NHANES uses several methods to monitor the quality of the analyses performed by the contract laboratories. In the MEC, these methods include performing blind split samples collected on “dry run” sessions. In addition, contract laboratories randomly perform repeat testing on 2% of all specimens.
The data were reviewed. Incomplete data or improbable values were sent to the performing laboratory for confirmation.
The COVID-19 pandemic required suspension of NHANES 2019-2020 field operations in March 2020 after data were collected in 18 of the 30 survey locations in the 2019-2020 sample. Data collection was cancelled for the remaining 12 locations. Because the collected data from 18 locations were not nationally representative, these data were combined with data from the previous cycle (2017-2018) to create a 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data file. A special weighting process was applied to the 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data file. The resulting sample weights in the demographic data file should be used to calculate estimates from the combined cycles. These sample weights are not appropriate for independent analyses of the 2019-2020 data and will not yield nationally representative results for either the 2017-2018 data alone or the 2019-March 2020 data alone. Please refer to the NHANES website for additional information for the NHANES 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data, and for the previous 2017-2018 public use data file with specific weights for that 2-year cycle.
Refer to the 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 Laboratory Data Overview documents for general information on NHANES laboratory data.
There are over 800 laboratory tests performed on NHANES participants. However, not all participants provided biospecimens or enough volume for all the tests to be performed. The specimen availability can also vary by age or other population characteristics. For example, in the 2017-March 2020 approximately 76% of children aged 1-17 years who were examined in the MEC provided a blood specimen through phlebotomy, while 95% of examined adults aged 18 and older provided a blood specimen. Analysts should evaluate the extent of missing data in the dataset related to the outcome of interest as well as any predictor variables used in the analyses to determine whether additional re-weighting for item non-response is necessary.
Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.
Demographic and Other Related Variables
The analysis of NHANES laboratory data must be conducted using the appropriate survey design and demographic variables. The NHANES 2017–March 2020 Demographics File contains demographic data, health indicators, and other related information collected during household interviews as well as the sample design variables. The recommended procedure for variance estimation requires use of stratum and PSU variables (SDMVSTRA and SDMVPSU, respectively) in the demographic data file.
This laboratory data file can be linked to the other NHANES data files using the unique survey participant identifier (i.e., SEQN).
Detection Limits
The assay used in this study cannot differentiate between natural infection and vaccination; therefore, seropositivity for anti-HAV reflects either natural or vaccine-induced immunity.
This data is qualitative. The use of lower limits of detection (LLODs) is not applicable.
| Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Positive | 6987 | 6987 | |
| 2 | Negative | 4522 | 11509 | |
| 3 | Indeterminate | 12 | 11521 | |
| . | Missing | 1894 | 13415 |