Hepatitis Be Antigen

$63

For: , ,

Quest Diagnostics Test Code: 555

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 tests that can be used to test for hepatitis B. HBV e-antigen is a type of antigen that is tested to measure the virulence of the virus and how easily it can be spread. When this titre is high, the patient is shedding a lot of virus in bodily fluids and is very infectious. This is also a good marker to determine the efficacy of treatment.

This test is performed in following conditions such as:

• Jaundice
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dark urine and/or pale colored stool
• Diagnosed with HBV on treatment

Requirements

Results obtained from immunosuppressed customers should be interpreted with caution. Customers receiving mouse antibody therapy may produce false-negative results. False-positives may be detected shortly after immunization to influenza and with customers with hypergammaglobulinemia, positive rheumatoid factor, and connective tissue disorders. Dietary supplements containing biotin (also known as vitamin B7 or B8, vitamin H, or coenzyme R) may interfere in assays and may skew results to be either falsely high or falsely low. For people receiving the recommended daily doses of biotin, draw samples at least 8 hours following the last biotin supplementation. For people on mega-doses of biotin supplements, draw samples at least 72 hours following the last biotin supplementation.

$63

Specimen Collected
  • Blood
Estimated Time Taken

Turnaround time for the Hepatitis Be Antigen test is typically 1-2 business days.