Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) is the antibody that best correlates with immunity to hepatitis B virus (HBV). The three most common reasons for testing are to determine if a person:
1) known to have been infected with hepatitis B has resolved their infection and is no longer infectious;
2) who is a candidate for immunization with hepatitis B vaccine has evidence of previous natural infection;
3) immunized with hepatitis B vaccine has developed a protective antibody response. In the first two situations, any level of HBsAb (except negative), combined with a negative hepatitis B surface antigen result, indicates a resolved infection without risk of transmission. The vaccine is of no benefit.
Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) is the antibody that best correlates with immunity to hepatitis B virus (HBV).
1) known to have been infected with hepatitis B has resolved their infection and is no longer infectious;
2) who is a candidate for immunization with hepatitis B vaccine has evidence of previous natural infection;
3) immunized with hepatitis B vaccine has developed a protective antibody response.
In the first two situations, any level of HBsAb (except negative), combined with a negative hepatitis B surface antigen result, indicates a resolved infection without risk of transmission. Vaccine is of no benefit.
HBsAg Rapid Test is a lateral flow immunoassay. If HBsAg is present in the sample, it forms a complex with the colloidal gold anti-HBsAg conjugate that is dried onto the test strip. The liquid migrates through the nitrocellulose membrane, and if colloidal gold – antibody – HBsAg is present this binds to a second anti-HBsAg antibody immobilized on the membrane, forming a visible red line. The test strip contains an internal control line in the control region that should always show up as a red line regardless of the test line result.
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