Types of Blood Tests for Diagnosing Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a common, serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It can be transmitted through direct contact with infected blood or certain bodily fluids. The most common method of transmission is from infected pregnant women, who can transmit hepatitis B to the baby during childbirth. It is also called a silent epidemic, as most people do not show symptoms when they are newly infected and can unknowingly spread it to other people. However, hepatitis B is curable, and there are some blood tests which can diagnose the infection. HBsAg The HBsAg test detects the HBsAg, a protein on the surface of the HBV during acute or chronic HBV infection. A positive HBsAg result indicates that a person has contracted the hepatitis B infection. After this, further testing is needed to diagnose whether the infection is acute or chronic. Anti-HBs This blood test measures whether a person has immunity against the hepatitis B virus. The presence of anti-HBs is an indication of recovery ...