Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

Application 1096

Hepatitis B DNA testing

Application No.

1096

Application NameHepatitis B DNA testing
Advisory PanelProfessor Syd Bell
(Chair and MSAC member)
Dr Debra Graves
(MSAC member)
Professor Peter Angus
(co-opted member)
Dr Geoff Higgins
(co-opted member)
Dr Katrina Watson
(co-opted member)
Mr Martyn Goddard
(co-opted member)
Ms Janney Wale
(Consumers' Health Forum nominee)
Ms Sharyn McGregor
(Hepatitis C Section, Department of Health and Ageing)
Date Received by MSAC Secretariat8 March 2005
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterThis assessment was considered by the MSAC at the 9 March 2007 meeting.

MSAC finds there is sufficient evidence of the safety, effectiveness and cost effectiveness of hepatitis B assay in the pre-treatment and in the monitoring of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

MSAC recommends that public funding be provided for the use of hepatitis B assay in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

MSAC further recommends that the number of hepatitis B assays for pre-treatment assessment or for the monitoring of patients with chronic hepatitis B who are not on antiviral therapy be restricted to one assay in a twelve month period and for patients on antiviral therapy the number of assays be restricted to four assays in a twelve month period.
Stage 4 - DecisionEndorsed by the Minister for Health and Ageing on 4 June 2007
Stage 5 - ImplementationImplemented
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Page currency, Latest update: 09 July, 2009