Hepatitis B Testing
FAQ
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How to test for Hepatitis B?
To test for the Hepatitis B virus, your doctor will collect a sample of your blood. The samples are sent to a lab and tested to see if you have been infected with it.
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What does “non-reactive” mean on a Hepatitis B test?
The term “non-reactive” describes a result of a Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screen, which tests for the presence of the Hepatitis B virus in your blood. A non-reactive result means that you do not have the Hepatitis B virus.
The presence of antibodies (IgM anti-HBc) and results from HBsAg can be used to assess recovery from a previous infection and help differentiate between acute and chronic infections.
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What can cause a false positive or negative on a Hepatitis B test?
The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can mutate and lose the ability to produce surface antigens. An antigen mutation can cause false-negative results for HBV. False positive results can be caused by recent vaccination.
Your doctor will assess the need to repeat testing depending on your overall results.
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Why is the Hepatitis B test important?
The Hepatitis B test is important because it can help diagnose if a patient has been infected with the virus. A positive result indicates current or prior exposure to the virus and can lead to medical attention. If left untreated, it can become a chronic condition and lead to greater health complications.
If your results are positive, speak to your doctor for guidance regarding further steps.
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Do I need to visit a doctor?
No doctor visit needed.
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How do I get my results?
You get your results via email as soon as they are available.
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Does my lab prescription expire?
Your lab prescription never expires.*
- Low prices since 2005
- Same day lab order by email
- Labs within 1 mile of 90% of the US
- Lab test prescriptions NEVER expire*
- Over 650 blood work labs to choose from
- Secure, encrypted & accurate testing
- Low prices since 2005
- Same day lab order by email
- Labs within 1 mile of 90% of the US
- Lab test prescriptions NEVER expire*
- Over 4000 blood work locations + 650 different blood tests to choose from
- Secure, encrypted & accurate testing
Hepatitis Be Antibody (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
The appearance of anti-HBe in patients who have previously been HBeAg positive indicates a reduced risk of infectivity. Failure of appearance implies disease activity and probable chronicity but patients with HBeAb may have chronic hepatitis. Chronic HBsAg carriers can be positive for either HBeAg or anti-HBe, but are less infectious when anti-HBe is present. HBe can persist for years, but usually disappears earlier than anti-HBs or anti-HBc. Anti-HBe has not been found as the sole serologic marker for hepatitis B infection.
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your phyisician.
***Hepatitis Be Antibody is included in the Hep B and C Profile Test.***
No fasting required.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis Be Antigen (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your phyisician.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
****Hepatitis B Surface Antigen is included in the Hep B and C Profile Test.***
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis B Core Antibody, Total (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Our hepatitis B blood lab test will aid in the diagnosis of acute or chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and in the determination of the clinical status of HBV infected individuals in conjunction with other HBV serological markers. Aid in differential diagnosis of hepatitis. The presence of anti-HBc total antibody indicates previous or ongoing infection with HBV in an undefined time frame.
Abnormal results may require further evaluation by your physician.
This test is also known as:
Anti-HBc
Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen
Core Antibody
****Hepatitis B Core Antibody, Total is included in the Hep B and C Profile Test.***
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
This test is a reliable marker for acute disease for a hepatitis B viral infection. At times this marker is the only one demonstrated for the diagnosis of a hepatitis B viral infection.
Abnormal results may require further evaluation by your physician.
This test is also known as:
Anti-HBc, IgM
Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen, IgM
****Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM is included in the Hep B and C Profile Test.***
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Presence of anti-HBs is an indicator of clinical recovery and subsequent immunity to hepatitis B virus. This test is useful for evaluation of possible immunity in individuals who are at increased risks for exposure to the hepatitis B (ie, hemodialysis unit personnel, venipuncturists, etc). Evaluate the need for hepatitis B immune globulin after needlestick injury; evaluate the need for hepatitis B vaccine and follow immune status after hepatitis B vaccine.
***Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative is included in the Hep B and C Profile Test.***
No fasting required.
Estimated turnaround for results is 1 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgG, IgM, Differentiation (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
This test is also known as:
Anti-HBc, IgG/IgM Diff
Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen, IgG/IgM Diff
HBcAb, IgG/IgM Diff
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis B Profile (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM;
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis B Disease Monitoring Profile (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM;
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody
Liver Function Profile
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen; Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM; Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative; Alanine aminotransferase (ALT/SGPT); albumin, serum; alkaline phosphatase, serum; aspartate aminotransferase (AST/SGOT); bilirubin, direct; bilirubin, total; protein, total, serum.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Hepatitis Panel, Acute (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
hepatitis B core antibody, IgM;
hepatitis B surface antigen;
hepatitis C virus antibody
No fasting required.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
FAQ: Hepatitis B
What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver. The liver becomes inflamed and tender. It may also become swollen. Areas of liver tissue may be destroyed by the inflammation. Hepatitis B is a serious, sometimes severe and even fatal type of Hepatitis.
How Does Hepatitis B Occur?
Hepatitis B is caused by the Hepatitis B virus. You get Hepatitis B by direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. For example, you can get it from:
- Having unprotected sex with someone infected with Hepatitis B
- Sharing needles for drug injection with an infected person
- Your mother if she had Hepatitis B at the time she gave birth to you
- Getting a body part pierced or a permanent tattoo with nonsterile equipment.
The disease can be spread by people who do not have any symptoms and may not know they carry the virus. These people are called asymptomatic carriers.
What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis B?
You may not have any symptoms of Hepatitis B until several weeks or months after you are infected with the virus. Or you may never have any obvious symptoms.If you have symptoms, the illness usually begins with these flulike symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- General aching
- Tiredness.
Other early symptoms may include:
- Itching, sometimes with hives
- Painful joints
- Loss of taste for cigarettes if you are a smoker
After several days you may also have these symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Foul breath and bitter taste in the mouth
- Dark brown urine
- Yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Pain just below the ribs on your right side, especially if you press on that part of your abdomen
- Bowel movements that are whitish or light yellow and may be looser than normal.
Some people develop a chronic form of the disease without having any obvious symptoms, even though damage to the liver may be occurring. The symptoms of chronic Hepatitis B may be persistent fatigue, weakness, and loss of appetite, as well as some of the other symptoms listed above.
How is Hepatitis B Diagnosed?
Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and symptoms. Especially important is your history of Hepatitis B risk factors such as IV drug abuse.Your provider will examine your skin and eyes for signs of Hepatitis B. Your provider will check your abdomen to see if the liver is enlarged or tender.You will have blood tests. If blood tests show that your liver is not working normally, your provider will do tests to see if you are infected with the Hepatitis B virus.