Induced HBs Antigenemia in Healthy Adults after Immunization with Two Different Hepatitis B Recombinant Vaccines

Background and aims: currently, vaccination is the most effective protective tool against hepatitis b virus infection. some studies have shown that positive results for a hepatitis b virus surface antigen (hbsag) test may be seen after vaccination. the aim of this study was to compare the incidence of positive hbsag results after vaccination with two different hepatitis b recombinant vaccines.materials and methods: in this clinical trial study, 62 healthy adult volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either the engerix-b or the hepavax-gene hepatitis b recombinant vaccine. blood samples were drawn 1, 3, and 5 days after vaccination and were tested for hbsag using two different elisa kits (behring and mega).results: hbsag was positive in 5, 3, and 2 participants of the engerix-b group in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th days after vaccination, respectively, using the behring elisa kit; the test was positive in only one subject in the hepavax-gene group, on the 5th day after vaccination. no positive result was seen in any groups when the mega elisa kit was used to test the specimens.conclusions: our results showed transient hbsag antigenemia after vaccination against hepatitis b. this condition depends on the type of vaccine and the hbsag diagnostic test.