The test is used to find out if you areimmuneto the virus after natural exposure or vaccination.
You have to give a blood sample for the HBsAb test, which is checked in a lab.
A negative or “non-reactive” result means that you’re not immune to the virus.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
It also goes over what a positive and negative hepatitis B surface antibody test result can mean.
The test shows how immune you are to the virus.
The HBsAb test can also show whether your vaccine protection is good enough.
A booster vaccine might be needed if HBsAb level drops below protective levels.
Those tests are used to determine if you have been infected with HBV.
Who Should Get Tested?
If both the HBsAb and HBcAb are positive, you are said to be immune due to natural infection.
Negative
An HBsAb test that is negative or “non-reactive” can mean different things.
In general, it means that you arenotimmune to the virus.
There are several ways to interpret HBsAb test results based on the results of the other hepatitis B tests.
If your HBsAb is positive, you cannot infect others and do not need vaccination.
If the results are unclear, all three tests will be repeated.
you better have blood taken for the test.
A positive result usually means that you are immune to the virus and cannot infect others.
A negative result has to be considered along with the results of the other tests.
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Hepatitis B Foundation.Vaccination.
Immunization Action Coalition.Hepatitis B.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical testing and diagnosis for Hepatitis B.
The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand.Understanding your test results.
Hepatitis B Foundation.Treatment and management.
New York: Mc Graw-Hill Education.
Kumar, Vinay, Abul K. Abbas, and Jon C. Aster.
Robbins and Cotran.Pathologic Basis of Disease.
