Hepatitis B Virus envelope Antigen (HBeAg)Test
Hepatitis B Virus envelope Antigen (HBeAg)Test
The Hepatitis B Virus Envelope Antigen (HBeAg) Test is a type of blood test that helps diagnose active hepatitis B infection by checking the presence of HBeAg in the patient's serum. A positive test usually helps doctors assess the infectivity and the patient's status.
Hepatitis B is a widespread cause of progressive liver diseases like inflammation, cirrhosis, cancer, or even death. Various laboratory viral biomarkers are used to identify different aspects of hepatitis B, including current infection, past exposure to HBV, or immunity. Of them, hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) is a viral marker secreted in a free form in individuals during the early stages of hepatitis B infection. The protein becomes detectable in the blood shortly after hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and disappears before HBsAg disappears.
In people with chronic hepatitis B, the presence of HBeAg is usually associated with high levels of HBV DNA in the blood and a greater possibility of liver injury
What is the HBeAg Test Used For?
To diagnose ongoing Hepatitis B infection
To check the disease progression within the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection
To monitor the effectiveness of antiviral therapy among chronically HBV-infected patients
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
Depending on a person's immune status, hepatitis B symptoms can range from having the virus in the blood for a long time to severe liver damage and failure. Mild symptoms often include
Fatigue, Nausea & Vomiting
Pain in the upper right corner of the abdomen
Loss of appetite
Dark-colored urine and pale stools
Yellowing of the skin and Eyes (Jaundice)
Joint pain
Preparation for Test
Avoid multivitamins or any other dietary supplements  24 hours before blood sample collection
Interpretation of Test Results
Interpretation of the HBeAg test result is given as follows:
Positive results(Abnormal)
This report suggests the presence of detectable HBeAg in the provided serum or blood sample, indicating pronounced HBV infection.
Negative result(Normal)
This report indicates no HBeAg in the serum, suggesting that the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is not actively replicating in the liver. It's usually presumed that a person is less infectious or has a mutant hepatitis B virus
FAQs
What is the difference between HBeAg and HBsAg?
HBeAg and HBsAg are both proteins produced by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), but they serve different purposes in diagnosing and managing HBV infection.
HBeAg is a marker for high viral replication and infectivity. Its presence in the blood indicates that the person is highly contagious. HBeAg can be detected during the acute and chronic phases of hepatitis B infection. However, it is indicated primarily during follow-up of chronic infection, where the HBeAg levels aid doctors in assessing the effectiveness of treatment and the risk of disease progression.
On the other hand, HBsAg is the first serological biomarker to appear in the blood and remains detectable even after the acute infection has resolved. Its presence usually indicates the stage of disease but does not correlate with severity. The HBsAg test is used to screen high-risk individuals, including pregnant women who can transmit HBV infection to their newborns
How do doctors use HBe Ag for determining treatment response?
HBeAg, Â a marker for increased HBV DNA replication, is released from the liver cells into the blood during infection. Doctors use the HBeAg test to monitor the effectiveness of many hepatitis B therapies that aim to change the status of the e-antigen from "positive" to "negative" in chronically infected individuals. If the HBeAg test is negative and anti-HBe antibodies appear (seroconversion), it means that the hepatitis B drug has effectively halted or slowed down the virus replication while reducing the risk of serious liver disease development in the future
Is treatment always necessary to convert positive HBeAg status to negative?
Most hepatitis B patients require treatment to convert their HBeAg status from positive to negative. However, in some people with chronic hepatitis B, the e-antigen disappears naturally, even without treatment
Are there any limitations to the HBeAg test?
The HBeAg test may not always accurately determine the severity of hepatitis B infection or the requirement for therapy. It is essential to interpret the results alongside other clinical and laboratory findings
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