HBS Antibody:
Why HBS Antibody Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
The liver is the most important organ that performs a variety of functions for the normal functioning of the body which includes the synthesis of significant biomolecules such as enzymes, hormones etc, stores vitamins, sugars and iron to help give the body energy, regulates the metabolites such as cholesterol, clears the metabolic end-products from the blood, synthesis of clotting factors, produces immune factors to combat infections, releases bile for the absorption of fats etc. Hepatitis (which means inflammation of the liver which can be acute or chronic) is a silent epidemic. It is a very serious viral infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus that affects the liver. Hepatitis B is a small DNA virus that belongs to ‘Hepadnaviridae’ family. HBS or HBsAg stands for HepatitisBSurface Antigen (a small polypeptide) that are present on the surface of the hepatitis B virus. This antigen is a protein from the hepatitis B virus which circulates in infected blood in acute and chronic infection. Hence, the antiviral antibodies are detected on testing (i.e on performing HBS or HBsAg Antibody Testing which remains as a serological marker). In most cases, Hepatitis B can also recover fully. Meanwhile, in some rare cases, untreated chronic hepatitis B patients can develop liver failure, liver cancer or liver cirrhosis. Other complications of hepatitis infection can lead to HBV associated nephropathy, serum sickness-like syndrome, acute necrotizing vasulitis (polyarteritis nodosa), Membranous Glomerulo-Nephritis (MGN), fulminant hepatic failure (hepatic encephalopathy), cirrhosis, liver cancer like hepatocellular carcinoma, aplastic anaemia, cryoglobulinemia and death. Clinical manifestations of hepatitis B can range from mild to severe grade. Causes of hepatitis B include infection spread when blood, semen or other body fluids from an infected person with hepatitis B virus enters the body of an uninfected person (eg. Blood transfusion, vertical transmission, sharing unsterilized needles, syringes, dialysis, tattooing (reuse of contaminated needles) and acupuncture, post-coital exposure to hepatitis B, STDs, sex workers etc). Since the incubation period varies from 30 to 60 days the signs and symptoms of hepatitis infection may appear early or delayed (up to 180 days). Some signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, dark urine, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, jaundice etc. The importance of this test is to screen for the presence of the hepatitis B virus in people (especially in pregnant women) and to determine the infectivity of hepatitis B virus carriers (since it is highly contagious). This test also helps monitor the status of individuals with chronic hepatitis B and prognosis. Other tests include liver function test and liver enzymes to measure potential liver damage (liver inflammation) caused by a hepatitis-B virus (i.e enzyme assays) such as Alanine Amino-Transferase (ALT) elevated during inflammation of the liver, PCR to measure HBV –DNA, fibroscan for transient elastography and Aspartate Amino-Transferase (AST) to platelet ratio for the assessment of liver cirrhosis.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
