Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Acute Exposure

Surface antigen usually appears in the serum following exposure to Hepatitis B virus and peaks shortly after onset of symptoms. It typically disappears within 1 to 3 months. Persistence of Hepatitis B surface antigen for greater than 6 months is a prognostic indicator of chronic Hepatitis B infection.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is one of the several viruses that cause hepatitis. It is severely contagious, being spread mostly through unprotected sex. Hepatitis is a form of liver inflammation and enlargement which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. There are many hepatitis lab tests that can be used to test for hepatitis B. The HBV surface antigen test measures the blood for proteins of the virus. This hepatitis lab test is useful for the detection, screening and diagnosis of acute or chronic HBV infection. Other than the HBV PCR, this is one of the earliest tests that can be performed to identify HBV even before the patient develops symptoms of the infection.

This hepatitis lab test is performed in following conditions such as:

• Jaundice
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dark urine and/or pale colored stool
• Abdominal pain