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What Does My Blood Test Report Indicate?

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Posted on Wed, 17 Feb 2016
Question: My blood test for the "Hepatitis B Surface Antibody", the result came back as "Reactive" or as the nurse put it "Positive". What is this meant to me?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
vaccination?

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

are you vaccinated? A positive anti-HBs (the surface antibody) can be positive either when a patient has (or had) hepatitis or when a patient has been vaccinated. Other serologic tests will determine which one applies. A negative HBsAg (surface antigen) and antiHBc (core antibody) with a positive antiHBs means vaccination. So please upload the whole report and I'll be glad to make it clear for you!

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (23 minutes later)
It was not due to vaccination. I have never vaccinated for Hepatitis B.
The only type of test I did last week was for "Hepatitis B Surface Antibody" (anti-HBs).
I have not done any of other tests yet, such as Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), or Total Hepatitis B Core Antibody (anti-HBc), or lgManti-HBc, or HBeAg.....

The result on my anti-HBs returns as Positive, and I am not vaccinated, so what is this result telling me?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
probably infected then

Detailed Answer:
If you haven't been vaccinated then an infection is the most likely explanation. It's a strange choice of test though because if you test of antiHBs alone then you're left with questions regardless of the result...

A positive antiHBc and perhaps also HBsAg will confirm infection.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 minutes later)
this is the only report I have for the anti-HBs test
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
serologic tests are required

Detailed Answer:
I see... You have to do the rest of the tests that I've mentioned (HBsAg and antiHBc IgM/IgG). AntiHBe and HBeAg can be helpful if any of the above has become positive.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (57 minutes later)
Okay, so if HBsAg is negative, then I have recovered, and can't get Hepatitis B again? If this is a positive, then I still have the virus and can pass to others.
A positive HBsAG probably will lead to a positive antiHBc? One can't have a negative HBsAg and a positive antiHBc?

A positive lgManti-HBc is to prove whether the HBV is contracted within the last 6 months?

Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (15 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
both are important

Detailed Answer:
If HBsAg is negative then the most likely cause is recovery from an acute hepatitis B. The vast majority of patients won't get hepatitis again, but certain patients may get it. Immunosuppression may reverse the antigen clearance and lead to reappearance of HBsAg and the clearance of antiHBs (and an exacerbation of hepatitis).

A positive HBsAg for more than 6 months is called chronic hepatitis B. Acute and chronice hepatitis are infective. The infectiveness depends on disease activity though.

The antiHBc develops even before the HBsAg is cleared (the IgM first and the IgG a little later or concurrently). The IgM stays there for the 6 month period that you've mentioned, this is correct.

When IgM is present then recent HBV activity has occurred. IgM will be negative in the chronic phase but it may reappear in cases like the one I've mentioned before (immunosuppression).

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (13 minutes later)
Okay, so if HBsAg is negative, then I have recovered, and can't get Hepatitis B again? If this is a positive, then I still have the virus and can pass to others?
A positive HBsAG probably will lead to a positive antiHBc? One can't have a negative HBsAg and a positive antiHBc?

A positive lgManti-HBc is to prove whether the HBV is contracted within the last 6 months?

Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It's a capital "i"

Detailed Answer:
Ig stands for ImmunoGlobulin, so it's an "i".

You're very welcome!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 hours later)
Is the following test results indicating that I have recovered from an acute infection and can't get Hepatitis B again?
HBsAg Negative
anti-HBs Positive
anti-HBc Positive

But can I still spread the virus to others? Or do I need to do the tests of HBeAg and anti-HBe to determine?

doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
it indicates past infection

Detailed Answer:
This pattern normally indicates past infection without potential for transmission. You don't have to do more tests if you have this pattern.

Kind regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3819 Questions

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What Does My Blood Test Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: vaccination? Detailed Answer: Hello, are you vaccinated? A positive anti-HBs (the surface antibody) can be positive either when a patient has (or had) hepatitis or when a patient has been vaccinated. Other serologic tests will determine which one applies. A negative HBsAg (surface antigen) and antiHBc (core antibody) with a positive antiHBs means vaccination. So please upload the whole report and I'll be glad to make it clear for you! Kind Regards!