Study objective: To determine prevalence rates of antibodies against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the general adult male and female population over 40 years of age with no history of viral hepatitis A (VHA) and viral hepatitis B (VHB) who have never been vaccinated against hepatitis and to assess the cost-effectiveness of the pre-vaccination serological screening. Material and methods: In 2003–2004, a total of 972 persons of three age categories: 41–50 years, 51–60 years, 61 and more years, were screened. Persons with a history of VHA and/or VHB and those who had been vaccinated against hepatitis were not included in the study. The following four indicators were determined from a 5 ml specimen of whole venous blood by electrochemiluminiscence assay: total anti–HAV antibodies, total anti-HBc antibodies, anti-HBs antibodies and HBsAg, as the most suitable markers of experienced hepatitis or previous vaccination. Results: The prevalence rates of anti-HAV antibodies were lower in females compared to males for all of the three age categories. These antibodies were detected in 16.8 %, 52.9 % and 77.5 % of 41–50- year-olds, 51–60-year-olds and ≥ 61-year-olds, respectively. The total prevalence rate for the three age groups was 61.6 %. The anti-HBc antibody seroprevalence rates were 1.9 %, 5.3 % and 6.1 %, respectively. Conclusion: The results show high prevalence of VHA in higher age groups. Such a high seroprevalence of antibodies in nonvaccinated persons with no history of viral hepatitis is suggestive of a very frequent incidence of asymptomatic infection. For this reason, the prevaccination screening of anti-HAV antibodies is cost-effective in the population over 50 years of age but is not justified in persons under 40 years of age. Prevaccination screening for anti-HBc antibodies appears not to be cost-effective regardless of age in view of their low prevalence in the Czech population.

        Key words: seroprevalence – viral hepatitis A – viral hepatitis B – antibodies.