Methods

The guideline was developed according to NICE guideline methodology (www. nice. org. uk/guidelinesmanual). This involved systematic searching, critically appraising, and summarising the clinical and cost effectiveness evidence. The guideline development group consisted of clinical and academic hepatologists, two patient carer members, a virologist, a general practitioner, a paediatric infectious disease specialist, a nurse consultant, and a specialist in infectious diseases. NICE has produced four different versions of the guideline: a full version; a version known as the “NICE guideline”(which summarises the recommendations); a NICE pathway (an interactive tool that brings together all related NICE guidance on a topic in one interface); and a version for patients and the public. All these versions are available from the NICE website (http://guidance. nice. org. uk/CG165). Updates of the guideline will be published according to the NICE guideline development programme.