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Table of Contents
Purpose
Who Should Get Tested?
How It’s Done
Results
Treatment
A positive or “reactive” result on the HBsAb test means that you’re immune to the hepatitis B virus. A negative or “non-reactive” result means that you’re not immune to the virus.
This article explains what the hepatitis B surface antibody test is for, when it is used, and how the test is done. It also goes over what a positive and negative hepatitis B surface antibody test result can mean.
Purpose of the Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Test
The HBsAb test looks for the presence and quantity of HBV antibodies in your blood. The test shows how immune you are to the virus.
There are two types of antibodies produced in response to the hepatitis B virus:Immunoglobulin M (IgM)is the antibody that mounts the first attack against the virus but eventually fades away.Immunoglobulin G (IgG)is the antibody that provides long-lasting immune protection against HBV. The immunity can last for many years, but it gradually decreases over time.
There are two types of antibodies produced in response to the hepatitis B virus:
The HBsAb test can check for a previous exposure to HBV and tell how recent it was. By comparing levels of IgM and IgG, a healthcare provider can also use the test to monitor your recovery from an acute HBV infection.
The HBsAb test can also show whether your vaccine protection is good enough. Your test can indicate whether you are successfully vaccinated, not successfully vaccinated, or indeterminately vaccinated against hepatitis B. A booster vaccine might be needed if HBsAb level drops below protective levels.
The HBsAb test is not the same as thehepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testor thehepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) test. Those tests are used to determine if you have been infected with HBV.
A hepatitis B surface antibody test is recommended for:
Understanding the Hepatitis B e-Antigen (HBeAg)
How the HBsAb Test Is Done
Interpreting Results
Your HBsAb test result can be positive or negative, but how your provider interprets the results will depend on what the other tests (HBsAg and HBcAb) showed.
Positive
If your HBsAb result is positive or “reactive”—meaning the surface antibodies are present—it usually means that you have recovered from a recent or previoushepatitis B infectionand that you are immune to the virus. If both the HBsAb and HBcAb are positive, you are said to be immune due to natural infection.
If you received the hepatitis B vaccine, a positive HBsAb result on its own also shows that you’re immune.
Negative
An HBsAb test that is negative or “non-reactive” can mean different things. In general, it means that you arenotimmune to the virus.
There are several ways to interpret HBsAb test results based on the results of the other hepatitis B tests.
Interpreting Hepatitis B Tests
If your HBsAb is positive, you cannot infect others and do not need vaccination.
If all three tests are negative—meaning that you have never been exposed to the virus—you will be advised to get the HBV vaccine.
If your HBsAb test is negative but the other tests are positive, your healthcare provider will need to evaluate you further. Whether your infection is acute or chronic, you still have the ability to infect others and need to take steps to avoid spreading the virus.
If the results are unclear, all three tests will be repeated.
If your hepatitis B surface antibody test is positive, your provider will look at your other blood tests to determine whether you need treatment.
Medications that can treat hepatitis B include:
Summary
You need to have blood taken for the test. A positive result usually means that you are immune to the virus and cannot infect others. A negative result has to be considered along with the results of the other tests.
If all of your hepatitis tests are negative, it indicates that you have not been exposed to the virus and are not immune. If this is the case, talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated—whether or not you are at risk of hepatitis B. Even if you are immune to hepatitis B, you may still be at risk for other types of hepatitis, including hepatitis C.
How to Prevent Viral Hepatitis
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Song JE, Kim DY.Diagnosis of hepatitis B.Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(18):338. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.11Hepatitis B Foundation.Vaccination.Immunization Action Coalition.Hepatitis B.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for Hepatitis B.The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand.Understanding your test results.Hepatitis B Foundation.Treatment and management.Additional ReadingKasper, Dennis L.., Anthony S. Fauci, and Stephen L.. Hauser.Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw-Hill Education. Print.Kumar, Vinay, Abul K. Abbas, and Jon C. Aster. Robbins and Cotran.Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia: Elsevier-Saunders. Print.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Song JE, Kim DY.Diagnosis of hepatitis B.Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(18):338. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.11Hepatitis B Foundation.Vaccination.Immunization Action Coalition.Hepatitis B.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for Hepatitis B.The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand.Understanding your test results.Hepatitis B Foundation.Treatment and management.Additional ReadingKasper, Dennis L.., Anthony S. Fauci, and Stephen L.. Hauser.Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw-Hill Education. Print.Kumar, Vinay, Abul K. Abbas, and Jon C. Aster. Robbins and Cotran.Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia: Elsevier-Saunders. Print.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Song JE, Kim DY.Diagnosis of hepatitis B.Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(18):338. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.11Hepatitis B Foundation.Vaccination.Immunization Action Coalition.Hepatitis B.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for Hepatitis B.The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand.Understanding your test results.Hepatitis B Foundation.Treatment and management.
Song JE, Kim DY.Diagnosis of hepatitis B.Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(18):338. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.11
Hepatitis B Foundation.Vaccination.
Immunization Action Coalition.Hepatitis B.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for Hepatitis B.
The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand.Understanding your test results.
Hepatitis B Foundation.Treatment and management.
Kasper, Dennis L.., Anthony S. Fauci, and Stephen L.. Hauser.Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw-Hill Education. Print.Kumar, Vinay, Abul K. Abbas, and Jon C. Aster. Robbins and Cotran.Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia: Elsevier-Saunders. Print.
Kasper, Dennis L.., Anthony S. Fauci, and Stephen L.. Hauser.Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw-Hill Education. Print.
Kumar, Vinay, Abul K. Abbas, and Jon C. Aster. Robbins and Cotran.Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia: Elsevier-Saunders. Print.
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