6 Best Hepatitis B Test for Accurate Diagnosis

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It spreads through blood, unprotected sex, or from mother to baby during childbirth. Symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal pain.

 

Diagnosis with a hepatitis B test is vital. With proper care, most individuals have a positive outcome, though some may develop chronic liver disease. Explore more about hepatitis B now.

 

6 Hepatitis B Test for Diagnosis

Timely Hepatitis B diagnosis is crucial for proper management and treatment. It enables early intervention, reducing the risk of complications and the transmission of the virus to others. Get tested and take control of your health today.

 

Here is a list of common Hepatitis B tests used for diagnosing:

1. HBsAg Test
2. Anti-HBs Test
3. Anti-HBc Test
4. HBeAg Test
5. Anti-HBe Test
6. HBV DNA Test

 

 

1. HBsAg Test

• HBsAg test detects the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen.
• It is the primary test used to diagnose acute or chronic Hepatitis B infection.
• A positive HBsAg test indicates active Hepatitis B virus infection.

HBsAg Test	Details
Also Known As	Hepatitis B surface antigen test
Purpose	Detects the presence of HBsAg, indicating Hepatitis B infection.
Sample	Blood
Preparation	Fasting required
Procedure	Blood draw and laboratory testing
Test Timing	20 minutes-few hours
Test Price (INR)	500-1500
Result Value	Positive or Negative
Normal Value	Negative
Accuracy	High
Interpretation	A positive result indicates active Hepatitis B infection.

HBsAg test detects presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen, indicating active infection.

 

2. Anti-HBs Test

• Measures the presence of Hepatitis B surface antibodies (Anti-HBs).
• Indicates immunity to Hepatitis B due to prior infection or vaccination.
• Used to assess vaccine effectiveness or confirm recovery from Hepatitis B infection.

Anti-HBs Test	Details
Also Known As	Hepatitis B surface antibody test
Purpose	Measures the presence of Anti-HBs antibodies.
Sample	Blood
Preparation	Fasting not be required
Procedure	Blood draw and laboratory testing.
Test Timing	1-2 hours
Test Price (INR)	500-1500
Result Value	Positive or Negative
Normal Value	Positive
Accuracy	High
Interpretation	A positive result indicates immunity to Hepatitis B.

Anti-HBs test measures presence of Hepatitis B surface antibodies, indicating immunity to the virus.

 

3. Anti-HBc Test

• Detects antibodies against Hepatitis B core antigen (Anti-HBc).
• Indicates past or current Hepatitis B infection, regardless of surface antigen status.
• Helpful in diagnosing occult (hidden) Hepatitis B infections and assessing overall infection history.

Anti-HBc Test	Details
Also Known As	Hepatitis B core antibody test
Purpose	Detects the presence of Anti-HBc antibodies.
Sample	Blood
Preparation	Fasting may not be required
Procedure	Blood draw and laboratory testing.
Test Timing	1-2 hours
Test Price (INR)	500-1500
Result Value	Positive or Negative
Normal Value	Positive or Negative
Accuracy	High
Interpretation	A positive result indicates past or current Hepatitis B infection.

Anti-HBc test detects presence of Hepatitis B core antibodies, indicating past or current infection with the virus.

 

4. HBeAg Test

• Measures the presence of Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) test.
• Indicates active viral replication and high infectivity.
• Helps determine the stage and prognosis of Hepatitis B infection.

HBeAg Test	Details
Also Known As	Hepatitis B e antigen test
Purpose	Indicating active viral replication and high infectivity.
Sample	Blood
Preparation	Fasting not be required
Procedure	Blood draw and laboratory testing
Test Timing	1-2 hours
Test Price (INR)	500-1500
Result Value	Positive or Negative
Normal Value	Negative
Accuracy	High
Interpretation	A positive result indicates active viral replication and high infectivity.

HBeAg test measures presence of Hepatitis B e antigen, indicating active viral replication and high infectivity.

 

5. Anti-HBe Test

• Detects antibodies against Hepatitis B e antigen (Anti-HBe).
• Indicates a transition from the acute phase to the recovery or inactive phase of infection.
• Helpful in monitoring response to treatment and predicting the likelihood of viral relapse.

Anti-HBe Test	Details
Also Known As	Hepatitis B e antibody test
Purpose	Detects the presence of Anti-HBe antibodies, indicating a transition.
Sample	Blood
Preparation	Fasting not be required
Procedure	Blood draw and laboratory testing
Test Timing	1-2 hours
Test Price (INR)	500-1500
Result Value	Positive or Negative
Normal Value	Positive
Accuracy	High
Interpretation	A positive result indicates the transition to recovery or inactive phase of Hepatitis B infection.

Anti-HBe test detects presence of Hepatitis B e antibodies, indicating transition to recovery or inactive phase of infection.

 

6. HBV DNA Test

• Measures the amount of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genetic material (DNA) in the blood for Hepatitis B Test.
• Determines the viral load and assesses the activity of HBV replication.
• Essential for monitoring disease progression, treatment response, and guiding antiviral therapy.

HBV DNA Test	Details
Also Known As	Hepatitis B viral DNA test
Purpose	Measures the amount of HBV DNA in blood, assessing viral load.
Sample	Blood
Preparation	Fasting not be required
Procedure	Blood draw and laboratory testing
Test Timing	Few hours-few days
Test Price (INR)	1,000-3,000
Result Value	Quantitative measurement
Normal Value	Undetectable or low
Accuracy	High
Interpretation	Higher values indicate active replication and higher viral load

HBV DNA test measures the amount of Hepatitis B viral DNA in blood, providing insights into viral load and replication activity.

 

Hepatitis B Diagnosis Test Overview

Test Name	HBsAg Test	Anti-HBs Test	Anti-HBc Test
Also Known As	Hepatitis B surface antigen test	Hepatitis B surface antibody test	Hepatitis B core antibody test
Purpose	Detects the presence of HBsAg, indicating Hepatitis B infection.	Measures the presence of Anti-HBs antibodies, indicating immunity.	Detects the presence of Anti-HBc antibodies, indicating infection.
Sample	Blood	Blood	Blood
Preparation	Fasting required	Fasting not be required	Fasting not be required
Procedure	Blood draw and laboratory testing	Blood draw and laboratory testing	Blood draw and laboratory testing
Test Timing	20 minutes-few hours	1-2 hours	1-2 hours
Test Price (INR)	500-1500	500-1500	500-1500
Result Value	Positive/Negative	Positive/Negative	Positive/Negative
Normal Value	Negative	Positive	Positive/Negative
Accuracy	High	High	High
Interpretation	A positive result indicates active Hepatitis B infection.	A positive result indicates immunity to Hepatitis B.	A positive result indicates past or current Hepatitis B infection.

*Test Price, range, and timing may vary as per location, lab type, and procedure.

HBsAg test detects Hepatitis B infection, Anti-HBs test indicates immunity, and Anti-HBc test detects past or current infection with the virus.

 

Hepatitis B Differential Diagnosis

Similar Diseases	Differentiating Factors
Hepatitis C	Different viral genomes and modes of transmission.
Hepatitis A	Different modes of transmission and absence of chronic infection.
Hepatitis D (co-infection)	Requires presence of Hepatitis B virus for infection.
Hepatitis E	Different modes of transmission and typically self-limiting.
Autoimmune Hepatitis	Presence of specific autoimmune markers and response to immunosuppressive therapy.
Drug-induced Hepatitis	History of drug exposure and resolution upon discontinuation.
Alcoholic Hepatitis	History of chronic alcohol abuse and characteristic clinical features.

Hepatitis B differential diagnosis includes Hepatitis C, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E, autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, and more.

 

Best Doctor for Hepatitis B

Specialist	Description
Hepatologist	Liver disease specialist
Gastroenterologist	Digestive system specialist
Infectious Disease Specialist	Expert in infectious diseases
Internal Medicine Specialist	Comprehensive medical care

The best doctor for Hepatitis B  diagnosis treatment is hepatologist, providing exceptional care and expertise in liver disease management.

 

7 Interesting Facts of Hepatitis B Diagnosis

1. Hepatitis B can be diagnosed through a simple blood test.
2. Rapid tests can provide results in as little as 20 minutes.
3. PCR tests can detect extremely low levels of viral DNA.
4. Serology tests detect antibodies against the Hepatitis B test.
5. Timely diagnosis is crucial for preventing transmission.
6. Diagnostic tests help determine the stage of infection.
7. Hepatitis B tests are an essential part of routine check-ups.

 

Conclusion

Hepatitis B diagnosis is essential for timely treatment and prevention of transmission. With various blood tests available, healthcare professionals can accurately detect the virus, assess its stage, and guide appropriate management for hepatitis B tests. Regular testing and early detection play a crucial role in ensuring better outcomes and protecting public health.

 

Reference

• Hepatitis B - Wikipedia [1].
• Hepatitis B - StatPearls - NCBI [2].
• Hepatitis B - World Health Organization (WHO) [3].