The article is devoted to an actual problem of infectology and pediatrics. The introduction into laboratory practice of molecular biology techniques for detecting infectious agents significantly increased the understanding of the characteristics of chronic hepatitis B course (CHB). It was shown that DNA virus with a low copy number continues to be determined in serum and liver tissue in patients with some level of HBsAg nedektiruemym both acute and chronic infection, or even after antiviral therapy. In recent years, it has been convincingly proved the existence of HBsAg-negative forms of chronic hepatitis B, which has led to the emergence of the concept of latent HBV infection, which is characterized by the presence of the virus in the body at undetectable levels of HBsAg. This reduction in the formation of HBsAg to undetectable levels during the development of chronic infection is a very common and well-described phenomenon. This is a special group of patients, who often escape the attention of doctors, since screening is carried out only by HbsAg. With such an important development of CHB, and often the only serological marker of infection the patient is the presence of anti-HVcor IgG.

In the present study we compared the clinical and laboratory data of children and adolescents with HBsAg-negative and HBsAg-positive chronic viral hepatitis (CVH). The study did not reveal fundamental differences in epidemiological, clinical laboratory data in patients with latent chronic hepatitis B, in comparison with the manifest forms of the disease. It is found that these patients suffer from chronic liver disease not less than HbsAg (+) patients. Introduction of а-НВсor to the screening will allow actively identify these patients and to carry out a full range of medical and dispensary activities.