January 24, 1990
DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR
No. 21 – A series 1990
Pursuant to Section B of
the Rules and Regulation governing conduct of medical examination for overseas
workers and seafarers test for Hepatitis–B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) will be done
when required by country of destination.
When Hepatitis–B testing
is performed on an applicant, the following policies shall be observed:
1. REACTIVE results
following Reverse Passive Hemagglutination Test (RPHA) should be confirmed with
a confirmatory neutralization procedure or another test system such as Enzyme
Immunoassay (EIA) or Radio Immunoassay (RIA).
2. If the laboratory
does not have reagents for these confirmatory tests, it should refer the same
serum sample to another laboratory for such confirmatory test.
3. If there is
disagreement between the results from RPHA with EIA, a repeat EIA or RIA should
resolve the problem.
4. Applicants found
to be positive for HBsAg without clinical manifestation or other laboratory
findings (healthy carrier) shall not be labelled as “UNFIT FOR WORK”. He/She
will be recommended as pending. The positive results for HBsAg will be
indicated in the medical rating form both on the space for laboratory results
and the “REMARKS.”
5. Positive results
for Hepatitis B should be clearly communicated to the local agency or employer
to enable them to decide whether they will accept the applicant or not
according to their own policies, those of the host country and the type of job
that the worker will undertake.
6. Applicants found
to be positive for HBsAg who are deferred should be tested again after one (1)
to two (2) months to determine if the presence of the virus particle persists.
If the test for HBsAg continues to be positive at least 6 months after the
initial positive result, the person can be considered a Hepatitis B virus
carrier.
7. Those found to be
positive (especially of carrier) should be referred to a physician chosen by
the applicant for further diagnostic tests, counseling and management as
medically indicated.
These guidelines shall
take effect immediately.
ALFREDO R.A. BENGZON,
M.D.
Secretary of Health
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