There are 3 parts to the Hepatitis B panel of blood tests, so understanding your test results can be confusing.
It is very important to understand your Hepatitis B blood test results so that you receive the right kind of care and follow-up.
The hepatitis B blood test requires only one sample of blood and your health care provider should order the “Hepatitis B Panel,” which includes three parts. You and your health care provider will need to know all three test results in order to fully understand whether you are infected, protected or still at risk for a hepatitis B infection. Your health care provider may ask to check your blood again in six months after your first visit to confirm your hepatitis B status. Remember to ask for a copy of your hepatitis B blood test results so that you fully understand which tests are positive or negative.
E Antigen (HBeAg)
A negative test result means the virus may not be actively reproducing in the liver. In general, a person is considered very infectious when this test is positive, and less infectious when this test is negative.
HBV DNA
This test measures the amount of hepatitis B DNA in the blood, which tells how actively the virus is replicating.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)
A “positive” or “reactive” HBsAg test result means that the person is infected with hepatitis B. This test can detect the actual presence of the hepatitis B virus (called the “surface antigen”) in your blood.
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