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Hepatitis B Core Antibody General Clinical Tests
|
Test Name
Method |
Hepatitis B Core Antibody (HBc, Total Anti- HBc, IgM-anti- HBc Total (IgG+IgM)
Anti-HBc
Anti-µ capture
|
Specimen
Requirements |
Serum
Stable for 7 d at RT and indefinitely at 4° C or - 20°C. |
Ref. Range
Conventional
International Recommended Units |
Negative |
Chemical Interfaces
In Vivo Effects |
None Found
|
| Diagnostic Information |
Hepatitis B core protein forms the capsid of the virus and is a potent
immunogen. The anti-HBc assay is the most important serological test to
document Hepatitis B infection and can be postitive in the face of a Negative
HBsAg. A positive total (IgG+IgM) anti-HBc, as performed by the current
commercial qualitative assays, is only positive to document acute Hepatitis
B. |
| Remarks |
Low levels of IgM-anti-HBc can sometimes be present in chronic Hepatitis
B and can confuse the diagnosis. In these cases it is necessary to retest
patients after several months (or years) to differentiate acute fromchronic
infection. |
References:
Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, third edition.
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