Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D, also known as "delta hepatitis," is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis D virus (HDV). Hepatitis D is uncommon in the United States. Hepatitis D only occurs among people who are infected with the Hepatitis B virus because HDV is an incomplete virus that requires the helper function of HBV to replicate. HDV can be an acute, short-term, infection or a long-term, chronic infection. Hepatitis D is transmitted through percutaneous or mucosal contact with infectious blood and can be acquired either as a coinfection with HBV or as superinfection in people with HBV infection. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis D, but it can be prevented in persons who are not already HBV-infected by Hepatitis B vaccination.

For training on hepatitis D serology, CDC offers an online training that covers the serology of hepatitis D and other types of viral hepatitis, available at http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/resources/professionals/training/serology/training.htm.

Laboratory Testing Requests

Hepatitis Delta specimen submission form. [PDF - 2 pages]
HRL Shipping Manifest [XLS - 52KB]
Hepatitis Delta questionnaire [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).