Hepatitis B & C Test

• Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids, including blood, vaginal secretions, and semen. The most common source of transmission is from an infected mother to her child during childbirth. Risk factors for hepatitis B include using injectable drugs, sexual intercourse with an infected partner, and sharing razors (or other products that may have come into contact with blood) from an infected individual. Hepatitis B can result in a chronic infection that can develop into cirrhosis or liver cancer. The most at-risk individuals for a chronic infection are infants and young children, with 80-90% of infected infants and 30-50% of infected children under 6 years of age developing a chronic infection. Less than 5% of infected adults will develop a chronic infection, assuming they have no other health complications. This test detects the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). HBsAg becomes detectable around four weeks after exposure to hepatitis B, remains detectable throughout an active infection, and disappears when an individual has recovered. A reactive HBsAg result is indicative of an active hepatitis B infection, but cannot distinguish between an acute or chronic infection. This hepatitis B test cannot detect immunity to hepatitis B through vaccination or previous exposure.

• Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is usually transmitted through exposure to blood from an infected individual, most commonly through sharing needles. Other potential sources of infection include at birth, sexual intercourse, healthcare exposures, blood transfusions and organ transplants, unregulated tattoos or body piercings, and sharing personal items that have been contact with infected blood. Hepatitis C can develop into a chronic infection (>50% of infected individuals). Over several decades mild to severe liver disease develops in most affected individuals, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Several factors increase the risk of the development of cirrhosis in infected individuals, including being male, >50 years, increased alcohol consumption, hepatitis B or HIV coinfection, and immunosuppressive therapy. This test detects antibodies to hepatitis C, which may be detected as early as 2 weeks post-exposure, but are generally not detected until 8-11 weeks post-exposure. If you suspect a recent exposure, an alternative test to detect hepatitis C nucleic acid (RNA) may be recommended. A positive result from this hepatitis C test is consistent with both a current hepatitis C infection and a resolved past infection. Follow up testing for hepatitis C RNA is required to identify a current infection.