HEP B SURFACE ANTIGEN with REFLEX CONFIRMATION

HEP B SURFACE ANTIGEN with REFLEX CONFIRMATION

This assay serves as a valuable tool alongside other serological and clinical data to diagnose both acute and chronic hepatitis B infections. It's particularly useful in screening pregnant women for hepatitis B, helping identify neonates vulnerable to acquiring the infection during the perinatal period.

Even if patients test negative for HBsAg, they could still have acute hepatitis B, especially during the "core window" stage where HBsAg is negative but anti-HBc antibodies haven't developed yet. In such cases, testing positive for anti-HBc, IgM becomes crucial for diagnosing acute hepatitis B. When there's a strong suspicion of viral hepatitis, testing shouldn't be limited to HBsAg alone but should encompass a range of serological tests to cover various stages of acute and convalescent hepatitis.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) stands out as a key serological indicator for both acute and chronic hepatitis B infections. It typically emerges within 1-10 weeks post the onset of clinical symptoms, marking the earliest sign of HBV infection. HBsAg assays play a pivotal role in diagnosing suspected HBV cases and in tracking infected individuals to gauge whether the infection has cleared or if the patient has transitioned into a chronic carrier state. 

For patients who successfully recover from HBV, HBsAg becomes undetectable within 3-5 months post-infection. However, in cases of chronic HBV, HBsAg persists throughout the individual's life. Screening pregnant women for HBsAg is recommended to enable timely prophylactic measures for newborns at risk. The continued presence of HBsAg, in absence of anti-HBs antibodies, along with other markers like anti-HBc, HBeAg, or anti-HBe positivity, signals ongoing infectivity and warrants investigation for chronic persistent or aggressive hepatitis.