Information for the public
Being referred for specialist care
People with chronic hepatitis B are usually cared for by specialist doctors. If you are diagnosed by your GP, your GP should offer you further tests and refer you to a specialist doctor. You should be offered blood tests that will provide more information about the health of your liver, the stage of your hepatitis B disease and whether you have other infections such as HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis D.
Your GP should also arrange for you to have an ultrasound scan to check for liver cancer. The results from all of these tests should be sent with the letter referring you to the specialist. People whose livers are showing signs of failing (called decompensated liver disease) should be referred to a specialist immediately.
Pregnant women
If you are pregnant and found out that you have chronic hepatitis B through antenatal screening, you should be referred to a specialist who should see you within 6 weeks of being diagnosed. You may need treatment later in your pregnancy to reduce the chance of your baby becoming infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV).