Hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) was found in 5% and hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBs) in 33% of male blood donors from different ethnic groups in Paramaribo, Surinam. Among these ethnic groups only blood donors of Indonesian origin had a higher prevalence of both HBsAg and anti-HBs. The Indonesian donors may acquire this antigen and antibody at an earlier age than donors of Creole origin or of the Mixed ethnic group.
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