Who Should Get Tested for Hepatitis B
- Those who were born in the purple regions or have parents who were born in the orange regions, should get tested.
- Additionally, all pregnant women should be screened for HBV at an early prenatal visit during each pregnancy, even if they have been previously tested or vaccinated.
| Test Result | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| HBsAg(+) anti-HBs(-) |
Chronic HBV Infection |
| HBsAg(-) anti-HBs(+) |
Immune to HBV |
| HBsAg(-) anti-HBs(-) |
Unprotected, needs vaccination |
| HBsAg(+) anti-HBs(+) |
Chronic HBV Infection |
Screening
Many chronically infected persons show no outward signs of hepatitis B infection. Therefore, screening for hepatitis B is important and necessary. The only sure way to know that you are not infected with HBV is to get screened. Ask your doctor for the following blood tests:- HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN (HBSAG): Tells if you have chronic hepatitis B.
- HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIBODY (ANTI-HBS): Tells if you are protected against hepatitis B.