Milady Esthetics State Board Practice Test 2026 - Free Esthetics Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is known for its resilience and ability to persist on surfaces, making it particularly challenging to eliminate compared to other types of hepatitis viruses. It can survive outside the body for at least 7 days and is resistant to many common disinfectants and environmental conditions. This durability requires estheticians and other professionals to implement strict infection control protocols, utilizing appropriate disinfectants that are effective against HBV to ensure a safe environment.

Type A, C, and D hepatitis viruses do not have the same level of environmental stability as hepatitis B. Type A is primarily spread through fecal-oral transmission and does not have the same longevity on surfaces. Type C is less resistant than B and is typically transmitted through blood, but it is not as difficult to eliminate from surfaces. Type D can only occur in the presence of hepatitis B and does not present the same challenges in terms of surface disinfection. Thus, hepatitis B stands out as the most difficult type to effectively eliminate from surfaces.