Hepatitis B Surface Antibody

What the laboratory says this test is for

This panel consists of the three tests recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for screening for hepatitis B infection: 1) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); 2) antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs); 3) total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Low positive HBsAg samples will be confirmed by a HBsAg neutralization test. Reactive total anti-HBc samples will reflex to an anti-HBc IgM test.This panel can be ordered for universal HBV screening in all adults, including pregnant persons and patients who are at increased risk of acquiring HBV. Current guidelines recommend that asymptomatic adults be screened at least once for HBV. Periodic, repeat testing using this panel can be performed for individuals with appropriate risk factors.ReferenceConners EE, Panagiotakopoulos L, Hofmeister MG, et al. Screening and Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: CDC Recommendations - United States, 2023. MMWR Recomm Rep. 023;72:1-25.

What the laboratory says this test is for

This panel is important to baseline the laboratory parameters in order to define change on therapy as well as to assess the risk of any underlying medical conditions prior to initiation of therapy for Hepatitis C.

What the laboratory says this test is for

This panel provides information on infection and the immune response to hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), the 3 most common causes of viral hepatitis in the United States. In patients with unexplained elevated liver enzyme levels, this panel may be helpful in evaluating etiology for these viral hepatitides [1-4].This panel includes 5 tests with reflexes: total HAV antibody, qualitative hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with reflex confirmation, total hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), and HCV antibody with reflex to HCV RNA quantitative real-time PCR. The section below outlines the roles of the analytes assessed with this panel.Total HAV antibody: Presence of total HAV antibody is consistent with (1) immunity due to prior infection or vaccination; or (2) current HAV infection or recent HAV vaccination [2].Qualitative HBsAb: Presence indicates resolution of HBV infection or prior vaccination. To determine immune status due to past HBV infection or vaccination (ie, HBsAb titer ≥10 mIU/mL), a quantitative HBsAb test must be ordered [3].HBsAg with reflex confirmation: Presence indicates that a person has a current HBV infection and is infectious [3].Total HBcAb: Presence indicates past or current HBV infection [3].HCV antibody with reflex to HCV RNA: Presence (with detectable HCV RNA) indicates current infection. A positive result with a "not detected" HCV RNA reflex result may indicate a resolved infection or a biological false-positive antibody screening test [4].The results of the test in the panel should be interpreted in the context of pertinent clinical history and physical examination findings.References1. Viral Hepatitis Surveillance - United States, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed January 16, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2019surveillance/pdfs/2019HepSurveillanceRpt.pdf2. Nelson NP, et al. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2020;69(5):1-38.3. Roush SW, et al. Chapter 22: laboratory support for surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases. In: Roush SW, et al, eds. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed June 3, 2021. Accessed January 16, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt22-lab-support.html4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62(18):362-365.