| Table 1: Hepatitis B laboratory nomenclature |
| HBsAg: |
Hepatitis B surface antigen is a marker of infectivity. Its presence indicates either acute or chronic HBV infection. |
| anti-HBs: |
Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen is a marker of immunity. Its presence indicates an immune response to HBV infection, an immune response to vaccination, or the presence of passively acquired antibody. (It is also known as HBsAb, but this abbreviation is best avoided since it is often confused with abbreviations such as HBsAg.) |
| anti-HBc (total): |
Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen is a nonspecific marker of acute, chronic, or resolved HBV infection. It is not a marker of vaccine-induced immunity. It may be used in prevaccination testing to determine previous exposure to HBV infection. (It is also known as HBcAb, but this abbreviation is best avoided since it is often confused with other abbreviations.) |
| IgM anti-HBc: |
IgM antibody subclass of anti-HBc. Positivity indicates recent infection with HBV (<6 mos). Its presence indicates acute infection. |
| HBeAg: |
Hepatitis B “e” antigen is a marker of a high degree of HBV infectivity, and it correlates with a high level of HBV replication. It is primarily used to help determine the clinical management of patients with chronic HBV infection. |
| Anti-HBe: |
Antibody to hepatitis B “e” antigen may be present in an infected or immune person. In persons with chronic HBV infection, its presence suggests a low viral titer and a low degree of infectivity. |
| HBV-DNA: |
HBV Deoxyribonucleic acid is a measure of viral load and reflects viral replication. It correlates well with infectivity. It is used to assess and monitor the treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. |
Last reviewed:
July 21, 2023
| Table 2 |
| Tests |
Results |
Interpretation |
Vaccinate? |
HBsAg
anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
negative
negative
negative |
susceptible |
vaccinate if indicated |
HBsAg
anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
negative
negative
positive with >10mIU/mL* |
immune due to vaccination (or may represent passive transfer of antibodies from receipt of HBIG) |
no vaccination necessary |
HBsAg
anti-HBc
IgM anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
negative
positive
negative
positive |
immune due to natural infection |
no vaccination necessary |
HBsAg
anti-HBc
IgM anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
negative
positive
positive
positive |
acute resolving infection |
no vaccination necessary |
HBsAg
anti-HBc
IgM anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
positive
positive
positive
negative |
acutely infected |
no vaccination necessary |
HBsAg
anti-HBc
IgM anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
positive
positive
negative
negative |
chronically infected |
no vaccination necessary (may need treatment) |
HBsAg
anti-HBc
anti-HBs |
negative
positive
negative |
four interpretations possible† |
use clinical judgment |
* Postvaccination testing, when it is recommended, should be performed 1-2 months after the last dose of vaccine. Infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers should be tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs after completion of at least 3 doses of a licensed hepatitis B vaccination series, at age 9-18 months (generally at the next well child visit).
†1. May be distantly immune, but the test may not be sensitive enough to detect a very low level of anti-HBs in serum
2. May be susceptible with a false positive anti-HBc
3. May be chronically infected and have an undetectable level of HBsAg present in the serum
4. Passive transfer of antibody following HBIG administration or from an HBsAg-positive mother to her newborn
Last reviewed:
July 21, 2023
Serologic testing for immunity is not necessary or recommended after routine vaccination of infants, children, or adults. Testing for anti-HBs after vaccination is recommended for the following groups whose subsequent clinical management depends on knowledge of their immune status:
- Infants born to HBsAg-positive women and infants born to women whose HBsAg status remains unknown (for example, infants surrendered shortly after birth); postvaccination serologic testing should consist of testing for anti-HBs and HBsAg and should not occur before age 9 months
- Healthcare professionals and public safety workers at risk for blood or body fluid exposure
- Hemodialysis patients (and other persons who might require outpatient hemodialysis), people living with HIV, and other immunocompromised people (such as hematopoietic stem-cell transplant [HSCT] recipients or people receiving chemotherapy), to determine the need for revaccination and the type of follow-up testing, and
- Sex partners of HBsAg-positive people, to determine if they have not achieved immunity and will need revaccination and to continue to use other methods of protection against HBV infection.
Testing of individuals other than infants should be performed 1–2 months after administration of the final dose of the vaccine series using a method that allows determination of a protective concentration of anti-HBs (10 mIU/mL or higher). Testing of infants should take place after administration of the final dose of the vaccine series when the infant is age 9 through 12 months. Testing should not be done earlier than 9 months to avoid inadvertent detection of HBIG administered at birth and to maximize the likelihood of detecting HBV infection, if present.
Last reviewed:
July 21, 2023
Some isolated positive anti-HBc results are false positives (it is the most common false positive HBV marker). If that can be established, the individual can and likely should be vaccinated, assuming there is an indication or desire to be protected. If the positive anti-HBc is believed to be a true positive, the individual would not require vaccination since they have already (presumably) had HBV infection. Isolated positive anti-HBc could indicate low-level chronic infection. In an infant isolated anti-HBc could indicate passive transfer of antibody from a mother who is HBsAg positive, which is why anti-HBc testing of infants is not recommended.
Additional resources for the evaluation of isolated anti-HBc antibody results are available from the University of Washington: www.hepatitisb.uw.edu/go/screening-diagnosis/diagnosis-hbv/core-concept/all and from CDC: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/interpretationOfHepBSerologicResults.htm.
Last reviewed:
July 21, 2023
Reporting of adequate and inadequate is acceptable only if your lab is using mIUs as the measurement for anti-HBs and the cutoff is below 10 mIU for reporting inadequate anti-HBs and 10 mIU or higher for reporting adequate anti-HBs. You should check with your lab to be certain this is being done.
Last reviewed:
July 21, 2023
Most likely this person has a resolved HBV infection and is immune. However, it would be preferable to test her again for all these serologic markers, and also quantify the anti-HBs result. If the results are still positive for anti-HBc, and anti-HBs is less than the immune level of 10 mIU/mL, you can give her one dose of HepB vaccine and test again in 1–2 months. If the anti-HBs is positive (10 mIU/mL or higher), she is immune. No further action is needed other than to document the results. If the anti-HBs is still negative, complete the vaccine series and test again 1–2 months after the last dose of vaccine.
Last reviewed:
July 21, 2023
