Question

What does it mean if the fifth item of the Hepatitis B two-and-a-half test is positive, and is it serious?

Answer

The fifth item of the Hepatitis B two-and-a-half test is for Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb). A positive reaction may indicate several situations:

  1. Acute Hepatitis B infection: This means that there is Hepatitis B virus in the patient’s body, and the virus is replicating. At this time, the patient is contagious.
  2. Chronic Hepatitis B infection: If the patient has had a positive HBcAb for a long time, it may indicate that they have developed chronic Hepatitis B.
  3. Past Hepatitis B infection: A positive HBcAb may also indicate that the patient has had a Hepatitis B infection in the past, has cleared the virus, but the body has not cleared all antibodies. To determine the specific meaning of a positive HBcAb, it is necessary to combine other test results such as Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and Hepatitis B e antibody (HBeAb) for comprehensive analysis. If necessary, consult a professional physician for detailed consultation.