Description
Hepatitis B tests may be used for a variety of reasons. Some of the tests detect antibodies produced in response to HBV infection; some detect antigens produced by the virus, and others detect viral DNA.
Generally, one set of tests is used to determine the cause of acute symptoms while another set of tests may be used after a diagnosis is made, to monitor possible progression of the disease, to detect chronic infection and/or carrier status.
The items below list the main uses for HBV tests:
-
To detect acute hepatitis B infection: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), IgM and sometimes hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)
-
To diagnose chronic HBV hepatitis: HBsAg, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and sometimes HBeAg
-
To monitor chronic hepatitis B infection and its treatment: HBsAg, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) IgG, hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) IgG and HBV DNA
-
To detect previous exposure to hepatitis B, in a person who is immune compromised (when the virus can become reactivated): hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) total and anti-HBs
Some of the secondary reasons to perform testing include: to screen for hepatitis B infection in at-risk populations or in blood donors, to determine if someone is a carrier, to detect previous infection (with subsequent immunity), and to determine if immunity has developed due to vaccination.
Some of the tests used to screen for infection may be performed as part of an acute viral hepatitis panel in conjunction with tests for other hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis A (HAV) or hepatitis C (HCV).