Also Known As
HBV
Hep B
Hepatitis B
Anti-HBs
Hepatitis B surface antibody
HBsAg
Hepatitis B surface antigen
HBeAg
Hepatitis B e-antigen
Anti-Hbe
Hepatitis e antibody
Anti-HBc
Hepatitis B total core antibody
Anti-HBc IgM
Hepatitis B core IgM
HBV DNA
Formal Name
Hepatitis B virus
This article was last reviewed on
This article waslast modified on 13 June 2023.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?

To find out whether you have an infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or to check how well your treatment is working if you do have the disease. Another reason for a test would be after you had the vaccine against hepatitis B to make sure it has produced the desired level of immunity

When To Get Tested?

You will be tested for to see if you have HBV if you have symptoms suggesting you might have a viral hepatitis infection or are likely to have been exposed to the Hepatitis B virus; if you have chronic liver disease (possibly due to some other cause), if you were born to a mother who was HBV positive or if you are being treated for HBV. If you have recently received the vaccine, you will have a different test to check you have responded to it.

Sample Required?

A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm

Test Preparation Needed?

No test preparation is needed

On average it takes 7 working days for the blood test results to come back from the hospital, depending on the exact tests requested. Some specialist test results may take longer, if samples have to be sent to a reference (specialist) laboratory. The X-ray & scan results may take longer. If you are registered to use the online services of your local practice, you may be able to access your results online. Your GP practice will be able to provide specific details.

If the doctor wants to see you about the result(s), you will be offered an appointment. If you are concerned about your test results, you will need to arrange an appointment with your doctor so that all relevant information including age, ethnicity, health history, signs and symptoms, laboratory and other procedures (radiology, endoscopy, etc.), can be considered.

Lab Tests Online-UK is an educational website designed to provide patients and carers with information on laboratory tests used in medical care. We are not a laboratory and are unable to comment on an individual's health and treatment.

Reference ranges are dependent on many factors, including patient age, sex, sample population, and test method, and numeric test results can have different meanings in different laboratories.

For these reasons, you will not find reference ranges for the majority of tests described on this web site. The lab report containing your test results should include the relevant reference range for your test(s). Please consult your doctor or the laboratory that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range if you do not have the lab report.

For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

What is being tested?

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is one of several various causes of hepatitis, a condition characterized by inflammation and enlargement of the liver. Other causes of hepatitis include, for example, certain drugs, inherited disorders, and autoimmune diseases. HBV is one of five "hepatitis viruses" known to cause disease in humans . The other four are A, C, D, and E.

The course of HBV...

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