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Blood Test Showed HBsAg Positive Abnormal. What Does It Mean?
i got a blood test back that confirmed HBsAg positive abnormal. it said HBsAg testing of a subsequent specimen may be required to confirm the results. in some instances, samples found to be repeatedly weakly reactive and confirmed by a neutralization assay have been found negative on subsequent testing. What does this mean?
Sat, 3 Nov 2012
Hello and welcome to HCM
HBsAg is Hepatitis B virus antigen. It is the first antigen to appear in blood following infection by Hepatitis B Virus. Its appearance is followed by appearance of antibody to HBsAg.
Besides infection, HBsAg is also positive after immunization with Hepatitis B vaccine.
Once a person is positive or weakly positive for HBsAg it needs to be confirmed by confirmatory tests like neutralization test. A weak positive result is an equivocal result. It needs to be confirmed further.
So, now that you are HBsAg positive it has to be confirmed by a more sensitive test like a neutralization test.
If that test is also positive measures should be taken to clear this infection.
a subsequent sample may be tested to confirm the presence or absence of the viral antigen.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
HBsAg is Hepatitis B virus antigen. It is the first antigen to appear in blood following infection by Hepatitis B Virus. Its appearance is followed by appearance of antibody to HBsAg.
Besides infection, HBsAg is also positive after immunization with Hepatitis B vaccine.
Once a person is positive or weakly positive for HBsAg it needs to be confirmed by confirmatory tests like neutralization test. A weak positive result is an equivocal result. It needs to be confirmed further.
So, now that you are HBsAg positive it has to be confirmed by a more sensitive test like a neutralization test.
If that test is also positive measures should be taken to clear this infection.
a subsequent sample may be tested to confirm the presence or absence of the viral antigen.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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