What does a positive hepatitis B core antibody test mean?

What does a positive hepatitis B core antibody test mean?

Hepatitis B Core Antibody (HBcAb or Anti-HBc) – This antibody does not provide any protection or immunity against the hepatitis B virus. A positive or “reactive” test indicates that a person may have been infected with the hepatitis B virus at some point in time.

What are hepatitis B core antibodies?

Anti-HBc or HBcAb (hepatitis B core antibody) – this blood test remains positive indefinitely as a marker of past HBV infection. HBeAg (hepatitis B e-antigen) is generally detectable in patients with a new acute infection; the presence of HBeAg is associated with higher HBV DNA levels, thus, increased infectiousness.

What does core antibody mean?

The test for hepatitis B core antibody detects the presence of the core protein of the virus. A positive result means the person has been infected with HBV, but it does not specify whether the person has cleared the virus, still has the infection, or is immune to reinfection.

What does it mean when hepatitis B core antibody is negative?

Normal results are negative or nonreactive, meaning that no hepatitis B core IgM antibodies were found. If your test is positive or reactive, it may mean you are actively infected with HBV. In most cases, this means that you will recover within 6 months.

How long do Hep B core antibodies last?

Anti-HBc IgM is detectable first and remains detectable for approximately six months. Shortly after the IgM response, anti-HBc IgG appears and can remain detectable indefinitely.

Is hepatitis B core antibody curable?

Most adults with hepatitis B recover fully, even if their signs and symptoms are severe. Infants and children are more likely to develop a chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis B infection. A vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, but there’s no cure if you have the condition.

Is hepatitis B core antibody contagious?

If this test is positive or “reactive,” then your immune system has successfully developed a protective antibody against the hepatitis B virus. This will provide long-term protection against future hepatitis B infection. Someone who is HBsAb+ is not infected and cannot pass the virus to others.

What causes false positive hepatitis B core antibody?

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.