Pregnant women are recommended to be screened for HBsAg

Routine antenatal screening of all pregnant women for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is recommended. This allows appropriate measures (such as referral to an appropriate infectious disease specialist) to be taken to prevent newborn infants developing chronic hepatitis B.^23-25 See Infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B surface antigen–positive are recommended to receive both hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG. See Laboratory diagnosis.