Hepatitis D

-

Hepatitis D, also known as “delta hepatitis,” is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV). Hepatitis D only occurs in people who are also infected with the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis D is spread when blood or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Hepatitis D can be an acute, short-term infection or become a long-term, chronic infection. Hepatitis D can cause severe symptoms and serious illness that can lead to life-long liver damage and even death. People can become infected with both hepatitis B and hepatitis D viruses at the same time (known as “coinfection”) or get hepatitis D after first being infected with the hepatitis B virus (known as “superinfection”). There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis D. However, prevention of hepatitis B with hepatitis B vaccine also protects against future hepatitis D infection.

Hepatitis D Serology Training – CDC offers an online training that covers the serology of hepatitis D and other types of viral hepatitis.

Laboratory Testing Requests

Hepatitis Delta specimen submission form. pdf icon[PDF – 2 pages]
HRL Shipping Manifest excel icon[XLS – 52KB]
Hepatitis Delta questionnaire pdf icon[PDF – 2 pages]

Please contact DVH laboratory for help with testing options for hepatitis delta virus infection.
Contact person: Tonya Hayden, PhD
Email: zdy0@cdc.gov
Phone: 404-639-0979

All shipments must have completed HRL shipping manifests and HDV specimen submission forms and sent via overnight delivery at -20C to arrive at CDC no later than Thursday of any given week (except holidays).