Abstract
Background:
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major public health concern. The interpretation of HBV serological markers is essential for determining infection status, assessing disease activity, and informing screening strategies.

Aim:
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HBV infection among individuals undergoing screening at a reference laboratory in Tripoli, Libya, and to explore its association with selected demographic factors, particularly gender and nationality.

Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Reference Medical Laboratory in Tripoli, Libya, between October and November 2021. A total of 184 serum samples were analyzed using a third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic data, including sex and nationality, were obtained from clinical records. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using Fisher’s exact test, and prevalence odds ratios were
calculated for exploratory subgroup comparison.

Results:
Serological reactivity was identified in 83 of 184 samples (45.1%). The study sample was predominantly male (92.9%, 171/184). Among the reactive cases, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in 33.7% (28/83), antibodies against HBsAg in 51.8% (43/83), IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in 4.8% (4/83), and hepatitis B e antigen in 9.7% (8/83). Libyan nationals accounted for 85.5% (71/83) of the reactive cases, whereas foreign nationals accounted for 14.5% (12/83). Although a higher number of HBsAg-positive cases was observed among males, this
association did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion:
This study provides a facility-based characterization of HBV serological patterns among individuals in Tripoli, Libya, indicating the presence of both current infection markers and evidence of acquired immunity. Although higher frequencies of infection markers were observed in certain subgroups, these differences were not statistically significant and should be interpreted with caution. The findings support the importance of strengthening
HBV screening and ensuring appropriate clinical follow-up.

Key words: Hepatitis B virus; HBV serology; ELISA; Epidemiology; Gender; Libya.