Hepatitis B Profile (HBV Profile)
Hepatitis B Profile (HBV Profile)
If you suspect you've been exposed to hepatitis B, prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial because managing this contagious infection requires timely action. Hepatitis B is a viral liver infection that spreads through infected body fluids during unprotected sex or sharing needles. It can manifest as a short-term (acute) illness or progress to a long-standing (chronic) condition, posing serious health risks like liver cancer or cirrhosis.
The hepatitis B profile blood test is a standard diagnostic procedure to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers. These markers include antigens introduced when the virus enters the body and antibodies produced by the immune system in response. Clinicians use hepatitis B profiling to identify infection stages, determine if it's recent or old, and differentiate between immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
The profile includes tests for hepatitis B core antibody (Anti-HBc), hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B envelope antibody (HBeAb), and hepatitis B surface antibody (Anti-HBs). By incorporating hepatitis B core total antibody (Anti-HBc), the so-called "window period" is also covered when both HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies are undetectable, and hepatitis B core antibody is the only positive marker for hepatitis B infection.
What is the Hepatitis B Profile test Used For?
The purpose of doing the hepatitis B profile test is
To screen at-risk individuals for hepatitis B
To diagnose individuals for acute or chronic hepatitis B infection
To determine if a person is immune to HBV because of past infection or vaccination
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
Symptoms of hepatitis B can vary widely, from no symptoms to severe liver failure, depending on the individual's immune status. Symptoms that could call for a hepatitis B profile blood test include
Fatigue, Nausea & Vomiting
Pain in the upper right corner of the abdomen
Loss of appetite
Dark-colored urine and clay-colored stools
Yellowing of the skin and Eyes (Jaundice)
Muscle and joint pain
Which tests are included in the Hepatitis B profile?
The hepatitis B profile consists of the following tests:
- HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen) test
- Anti-HBs or HBsAb (Hepatitis B surface antibody) test
- Anti-HBc or HBc Total Ab (Hepatitis B core Total antibody) test
- Anti-HBc IgM (Hepatitis B core IgM antibody) test
- HBeAg (hepatitis B envelope antigen) test
Preparation for Test
Do not take biotin supplements for two days before taking a hepatitis B profile test. Also, let your doctor know if you have had a hepatitis B vaccination or have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or C.
Interpretation of Test Results
The interpretation of hepatitis B varies based on the patient's clinical history and the presence and titer of different HBV serological markers or their combinations.
- HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen) – A positive HBsAg test result determines whether the hepatitis B infection is recent (acute) or long-term (chronic). The presence of HBsAg usually suggests a person is infectious, but it may also be transiently present after a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
- Anti-HBs or HBsAb (Hepatitis B surface antibody) - A positive anti-HBs (or HBsAb) test result (>10 mIU/ml) indicates recovery from a recent hepatitis B infection. However, it also signifies protection against reinfection with hepatitis B. Anti-HBs antibodies are detectable in the blood when a person receives the HBV vaccine.
- Anti-HBc or HBc Total Ab (Hepatitis B core Total antibody) - A positive anti-HBc antibody test result suggests a past, current, or resolved hepatitis B infection. The detection of IgM antibodies indicates a recent hepatitis B infection, while IgG indicates a past infection.
- Anti-HBc IgM (Hepatitis B core IgM antibody): Positivity in test results indicates a recent HBV infection. Follow-up testing is required for patients with chronic hepatitis B experiencing deteriorating liver symptoms.
- HBeAg (hepatitis B envelope antigen)- A positive HBeAg test indicates a new HBV infection with high viral replication and thus increased infectiousness.
FAQs
Who should take the hepatitis B profile test?
Testing for hepatitis B is recommended if a person has been exposed to HBV through infected blood or bodily fluids during unprotected sexual intercourse or sharing contaminated needles or syringes. Also, people with liver symptoms such as abdominal pain, jaundice, tiredness and loss of appetite must go through this test.
Will I develop chronic hepatitis B if I am infected with the virus?
The likelihood of developing chronic hepatitis B largely depends on the age at which the patient is infected. Approximately 90% of children infected at birth develop chronic hepatitis B, when compared to 5% of people who get infected during adulthood.
Is hepatitis B curable?
Sadly, hepatitis B infection isn't curable, but antiviral therapy helps manage the liver symptoms and reduce the risk of life-threatening complications. Taking HBV vaccines also helps prevent the infection from spreading to others.
Which blood test confirms immunity to hepatitis B?
The presence of anti-HBs antibodies in the blood indicates recovery and immunity from Hepatitis B virus infection
What is a hepatitis B diagnostic marker?
HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen)Â is the first serologic marker to appear during a new HBV infection and can be detected within 1-10 weeks after exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The presence of HBsAg tells that a person is infectious.
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