Hepatitis B (chronic): diagnosis and management

Tests for liver cancer

Adults with chronic hepatitis B who have significant scarring of the liver (fibrosis or cirrhosis) should have an ultrasound scan and a blood test every 6 months to check for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). If you do not have fibrosis or cirrhosis, these tests may still be recommended if other factors mean you could be at higher risk, such as your age, the amount of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) found in your bloodstream (viral load) and whether a family member has had liver cancer. If none of these factors apply to you, tests for liver cancer would not be needed.