Hepatitis B Testing (Cont.)

 
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)
HBsAg is a marker on the surface of HBV. It can be detected in high levels in blood during acute or chronic hepatitis B.
 
If the HBsAg test is positive, it means that:
 
  • You do have hepatitis B
  • You can spread the virus to others.
     
HBsAg will be detected in an infected person's blood on the average of 4 weeks. However, it can become positive as early as one week or as late as 9 weeks after an infection has occurred. About one out of two patients will no longer be infectious by 7 weeks after onset of symptoms and all patients, who do not develop chronic hepatitis B, will be HBsAg-negative by 15 weeks after onset of symptoms.
 
Hepatitis B E Antigen (HBeAg)
If the HBeAg test is positive, it means that:
 
  • You have high levels of the hepatitis B virus in your blood
  • You may be very contagious to others.
     

Hepatitis B Test Results -- What Do They Mean?

 

Hepatitis B Panel -- Test Results and Their Interpretation
Tests
Results
Interpretation
HBsAg
anti-HBc
anti-HBs
negative
negative
negative

Not infected but still could become infected. Get the hepatitis B vaccine.
HBsAg
anti-HBc
anti-HBs
negative
positive
positive

Immune due to natural infection. Cannot infect others.
HBsAg
anti-HBc
anti-HBs
negative
negative
positive
Immune due to hepatitis B vaccination. Cannot infect others.
HBsAg
anti-HBc
IgM anti-HBc
anti-HBs
positive
positive
positive
negative

Acute infection. Can spread the disease to others.
HBsAg
anti-HBc
IgM anti-HBc
anti-HBs
positive
positive
negative
negative

Chronic
infection. Can spread the disease to others.
HBsAg
anti-HBc
anti-HBs
negative
positive
negative
Unclear. The tests should be repeated.

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD