Vol. 28 - Num. 111
Clinical Reviews
Transient post-vaccination positivity of hepatitis B surface antigen and the risk of overdiagnosis
Irene Antoñanzas Torresa, José Vicente Bernad Usoza, Irati Arregui Garcíab, Luis Alberto Pevidal Rodríguezc, M.ª Candelas Villaro Amilburuc, M.ª Llanos de la Torre Quiralted
aPediatra. CS Gonzalo de Berceo. Logroño. La Rioja. España
bMicrobióloga clínica. Departamento de Análisis Clínicos. Hospital San Pedro de Logroño. La Rioja. España.
cEnfermería. CS Gonzalo de Berceo. Logroño. La Rioja. España.
dPediatra. CS Labradores. Logroño. La Rioja. España.
Reference of this article: Antoñanzas Torres I, Bernad Usoz JV, Arregui García I, Pevidal Rodríguez LA, Villaro Amilburu MC, de la Torre Quiralte MLL. Transient post-vaccination positivity of hepatitis B surface antigen and the risk of overdiagnosis . Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria. 2026;28:341-4. https://doi.org/10.60147/1be9573b
Published in Internet: 23-09-2026 - Visits: 391
Abstract
Two clinical cases are presented involving pediatric immigrant patients with no relevant personal medical history, who showed isolated positivity for the hepatitis B surface antigen in the initial laboratory tests performed upon their arrival in the country. Subsequently, in follow-up assessments, the results returned to normal. The main hypothesis proposed is a transient antigenemia for the hepatitis B surface antigen, secondary to recent administration of the hepatitis B vaccine. This phenomenon highlights the importance of considering the prior immunological context when interpreting diagnostic results in the pediatric migrant population.
Keywords
● Health screening ● Hepatitis B ● Pediatric immigrant population ● Transient antigenemia ● Vaccination