Hepatitis B surface antigen in the Iraqi population

Using counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP), the carrier rate of HBsAg among the Arab Population of Iraq was found to be 2·8% compared with 5·5% in the Kurd population. The incidence of antigenaemia in laboratory workers, renal dialysis staff and patients, nursing and blood bank staff, and pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus patients is also reported. Study of immunoglobulin classes in carriers and in HBsAg-negative controls showed that raised IgG and IgM is more common in the former than in the latter.