Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Understanding Blood Tests PDF
Understanding Blood Tests PDF
Before explaining the tests, there are two basic medical terms that you should be familiar with:
Antigen: A foreign substance in the body, such as the hepatitis B virus.
Antibody: A protein that your immune system makes in response to a foreign substance. Antibodies can be
produced in response to a vaccine or to a natural infection. Antibodies usually protect you against future infections.
The test that is used to help you understand your hepatitis B status is called the hepatitis B blood panel. This is a
simple 3-part blood test that your doctor can order. Your results can be returned within 7-10 days.
2. Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (HBsAb or anti-HBs): The “surface antibody“ is formed in response to the
hepatitis B virus. Your body can make this antibody if you have been vaccinated, or if you have recovered from a
hepatitis B infection. If this test is positive, then your immune system has successfully developed a protective anti-
body against the hepatitis B virus. This will provide long-term protection against future hepatitis B infection. Some-
one who is surface antibody positive is not infected, and cannot pass the virus on to others.
3. Hepatitis B Core Antibody (HBcAb or anti-HBc): This antibody does not provide any protection or immunity
against the hepatitis B virus. A positive test indicates that a person may have been exposed to the hepatitis B
virus. This test is often used by blood banks to screen blood donations. However, all three test results are needed
to make a diagnosis.
Use the following chart to help you and your doctor interpret your blood panel results:
Tests Results Interpretation Recommendation
Hepatitis B Foundation · 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown PA 18902 · 215-489-4900 · [email protected]
What is hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is the world’s most common serious liver infection. It is caused by the hepatitis B
virus (HBV) that attacks liver cells and can lead to liver failure, cirrhosis (scarring) or cancer of the liver later in life.
Approximately 90% of healthy adults who are exposed to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) recover on their own and de-
velop the protective surface antibody. However, 10% of infected adults, 50% of infected children and 90% of in-
fected babies are unable to get rid of the virus and develop chronic infection. These people need further evaluation
by a liver specialist or doctor knowledgeable about hepatitis B.
Who should be tested? HBV is transmitted through contact with blood or infected bodily fluids,
through unprotected sex, unsterile needles, and from an infected mother to her newborn during the
delivery process. HBV is not transmitted casually, through the air, or from casual social contact
(hugging, coughing, sneezing).
The following groups are especially at high-risk for infection and should be tested:
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis B? The good news is that there is a safe and effective vaccine for
hepatitis B that lasts a lifetime. It is recommended in the U.S. and other countries for all infants and
children up to age 18 and adults at high risk for infection.
Liver Function Tests (LFTs): These are a group of blood tests that help your doctor find out how well your liver is
working. The most important test is the following:
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): This is an enzyme that is released from liver cells into the bloodstream when the
liver is injured. An ALT level above normal may indicate liver damage. ALT levels are included in the regular
monitoring of all chronic hepatitis B patients; this test can also be useful in deciding whether a patient would benefit
from therapy, or for evaluating how well a current treatment is working.
Liver Biopsy: This involves the removal of a small piece of tissue from the liver using a special needle. The tissue is
examined under a microscope to look for inflammation or liver damage.
Hepatitis B DNA test: This is a highly sophisticated blood test that checks for the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA
in the bloodstream. The DNA test indicates how much virus is present in the blood.
e-antigen: This is a protein that is made by the virus. If this test is positive, it indicates that there is a lot of virus in
the blood, which means that you can more easily spread the virus to others.
e-antibody: Often as the virus stops replicating in the body, and the e-antigen disappears from the blood, the e-
antibody appears. This can happen spontaneously or after treatment.
For more information about HBV diagnostic tests, please visit the following websites:
Hepatitis B Foundation · 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown PA 18902 · 215-489-4900 · [email protected]