Hepatitis B Testing

Hepatitis B Core Antibody (Anti-HBc), IgG, IgM, Differentiation Test

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen and exposure to the blood of an infected person may result in infection. This test is used to assess hepatitis B virus infection. Abnormal results may require further evaluation by your physician.

Includes:
Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgG, IgM, Differentiation.
This test is also known as:
Anti-HBc, IgG/IgM Diff
Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen, IgG/IgM Diff
HBcAb, IgG/IgM Diff

Hepatitis B Core Antibody (Anti-HBc), IgM Test

Hepatitis B Core Antibody (Anti-HBc), Total Test

Hepatitis B Disease Monitoring Profile

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that is caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). This panel is designed for monitoring the progression of treatment of infected individuals.

Includes:
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen;
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.

Hepatitis B Profile

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen and exposure to the blood of an infected person may result in infection. Abnormal results may require further evaluation by your physician.

Includes:
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen;
Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM;
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative

Hepatitis Be Antibody

Differential diagnosis, staging, and prognosis of hepatitis B infection.
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.

Includes:
Hepatitis Be Antibody

***Hepatitis Be Antibody is included in the Hep B and C Profile Test.***

Hepatitis Be Antigen

This test detects the Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg), which is associated with an existing or prior HBV infection. This test is also used to monitor HBV therapy.

A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your phyisician.

Includes: Hepatitis Be Antigen, serum.

Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen and exposure to the blood of an infected person may result in infection. Abnormal results may require further evaluation by your physician.

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.

Includes:
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative

***Hepatitis B Surface Antibody, Quantitative is included in the Hep B and C Profile Test.***

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

Hepatitis B surface antigen is the earliest indicator of the presence of acute infection. Also indicative of chronic infection. Test is useful in the differential diagnosis of hepatitis. Patients who are negative for HBsAg may still have acute type B viral hepatitis. There is sometimes a “core window” stage when HBsAg has become negative and the patient has not yet developed the antibody (anti-HBs). In cases with strong clinical suspicion of viral hepatitis, serologic testing should not be limited to detecting HBsAg, but should include a battery of tests to evaluate different stages of acute and convalescent hepatitis.

Includes: HBsAg; Confirmation of a positive result by a neutralization assay

****Hepatitis B Surface Antigen is included in the Hep B and C Profile Test.***

Hepatitis B and C Profile Test (Comprehensive)

Hepatitis Panel, Acute

Hepatitis is a disease of the liver causing inflammation. The Hepatitis Profile detects hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections. Abnormal results may require further evaluation by your physician.

Includes: Hepatitis A antibody, IgM; hepatitis B core antibody, IgM; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatitis C virus antibody

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.