What does it mean when hepatitis B surface antigen is positive?
HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen): when this is “positive” or “reactive,” it means the person is currently infected with hepatitis B and is able to pass the infection on to others.
What is PCR test for hepatitis B?
Polymerase chain reaction is a highly sensitive technique for the detection of hepatitis B virus-DNA and hepatitis C virus-RNA in serum, liver tissue, and peripheral mononuclear blood cells.
What does it mean when you are HBsAg positive and HBeAg negative?
In HBV carriers and patients with chronic hepatitis B, positive HBeAg results usually indicate presence of active HBV replication and high infectivity. A negative HBeAg result indicates very minimal or no HBV replication. Positive anti-HBe results usually indicate inactivity of the virus and low infectivity.
What causes false positive hepatitis B surface antigen?
Heterophilic antibodies have been known to cause both falsely positive (e.g. human immunodeficiency virus)4 and falsely elevated (e.g. prostate-specific antigen)5 immunoassay results.
Can hepatitis B positive change negative?
It can happen, especially in older adults after a long period of “inactive” hepatitis B infection. About 1 to 3 percent of people with chronic hepatitis B lose HBsAg each year, and about half of all people with chronic infections who live up to age 75 will lose HBsAg, depending on the amount of HBV DNA in their blood.
Is the Hep B PCR test a positive or negative?
The results for this test are quantitative, meaning they provide a numerical result rather than a simple positive or negative. Because Viral DNA is often detectable sooner than antibodies developed in response to an infection, Hep B PCR testing can be used as a screening for people who have had a recent exposure .
What does hepatitis B surface antigen test results mean?
Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you. Normal results are negative or nonreactive, meaning that no hepatitis B surface antigen was found. If your test is positive or reactive, it may mean you are actively infected with HBV.
What does it mean to have an HBS surface antibody?
antibodies to HBsAg as part of the normal immune response to infection. HBsAg is the antigen used to make hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs): The presence of anti-HBs is generally interpreted as indicating recovery and immunity from hepatitis B virus infection. Anti-HBs also develops in a person who has been successfully
What does HBsAg stand for on a hepatitis B test?
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) – The “surface antigen” is a protein found on the surface of the hepatitis B virus that is present in the blood of someone who is infected. If this test is positive or “reactive,” then the hepatitis B virus is present.