Abstract: PURPOSE: To compare the detection rate of HBV antigens in different samples, and to explore the significance of saliva transmission in the spread of HBV. METHODS: Eight hundred and ninety-one ordinary saliva samples, 578 bloody saliva samples and 450 serum samples of dental patients were collected from Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital and Dahua Hospital, and HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb and HBcAb were detected by ELISA method. SPSS19.0 software package was used for chi-square test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in gender, age and household registration between three types of saliva sample: ordinary saliva, bloody saliva and serum (P>0.05). Eight, 11 and 12 of HBV-M combination modes were detected from the above three samples. Six "HHAs" were detected from the normal saliva samples (0.67%), and the detection rate was similar to bloody saliva samples (0.87%) and serum samples (1.56%) (P>0.05). HBsAg detection rate in serum samples was significantly higher than bloody saliva and ordinary saliva (P<0.001). The difference between ordinary saliva and bloody saliva and between different age-group, sex-group, and census register group in serum samples was of no significant difference (P>0.05), and so was HBeAg. CONCLUSIONS: Saliva is an important transmission route of hepatitis B, and should be taken seriously. When the infectivity is strong, the virus content in saliva is high. Hepatitis B virus in saliva may come from other than sources except blood.

Key words: Saliva, Hepatitis B virus, HBsAg