The anti-hb test is requested to check if the person is immune to the hepatitis B virus, either acquired by vaccination or by curing the disease.
- The anti-hb test is used to evaluate body production of antibodies against a protein on the surface of the hepatitis B virus.
- HBsAg.
- Thus.
- By the anti-hb test.
- The doctor can check whether or not the person has been immunized against hepatitis B.
- By vaccination.
- In addition to checking whether the treatment is effective or has been cured.
- When the diagnosis of hepatitis B was confirmed.
While the anti-hbs test is requested to check for immunity and response to treatment, your doctor requests the HBsAg test to find out if the person is infected or has been in contact with the hepatitis B virus. A test is required to diagnose hepatitis B.
HBsAg is a protein found on the surface of the hepatitis B virus and is useful for diagnosing acute, recent, or chronic hepatitis B. The HBsAg test is usually requested with the anti-hb test, as it is possible to check if the virus circulates. in the blood and if the body acts on it. When the person has hepatitis B, the report contains the HBsAg reagent, which is an important outcome for the doctor because it is possible to start treatment. Understand how hepatitis B is treated.
No preparation or fasting is necessary to perform the anti-hbs test and this is done by taking a small blood sample, which is sent to the lab for testing.
In the lab, the blood undergoes a serological testing process, which detects the presence of specific antibodies against the hepatitis B virus. These antibodies are formed after contact with the virus or due to vaccination, in which the body is stimulated to produce these antibodies, giving the person immunity for the rest of their life.
Know when the hepatitis B vaccine should be given
The result of the anti-hbs test varies depending on the concentration of antibodies against the hepatitis B virus in the blood, with the reference values being:
In addition to evaluating the result of the anti-hb test, your doctor also analyzes the HBsAg test result. Therefore, when tracking a person already diagnosed with hepatitis B, the positive result of HBsAg and non-reactive anti-hbs indicates that the person is cured and that there is no virus circulating in the blood. The person who does not have hepatitis B also has the same results and the concentration of anti-hbs exceeds 100 mUI/mL.
In the case of Ag HBs and anti-hbs positive, it is recommended to repeat the test after 15 to 30 days, as this may indicate a false positive result, the formation of immune complexes (immunocompenses) or infection by different subtypes of hepatitis B virus.