Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)

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Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)

There are three forms of hepatitis:

Hepatitis A (Infectious Hepatitis)
Hepatitis B (Serum Hepatitis, Transfusion Hepatitis)
Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis

Hepatitis A:

Transmitted through close personal contact (oral or fecal)
Affects children and young adults more often
Is not associated with chronic hepatitis or a carrier status
Has an incubation period of 2-6 weeks, followed by an abrupt onset
Hepatitis A IgM will be elevated from 6-14 weeks after infection.

Hepatitis B:

Transmitted parenterally (drug injection or transfusion)
10% become carriers
Has an incubation period of 6-26 weeks, followed by a gradual onset of symptoms and signs.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen appears in the serum from 4-12 weeks following infection
Hepatitis B Core Antibody appears within 6-14 weeks
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody appears 4-10 months following infection, indicating clinical recovery and immunity to the Hep B virus

Normal Values*

Hepatitis A	Negative
Hepatitis B	Negative
Hepatitis, Non-A, Non-B	Negative

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.

Source: Operational Medicine 2001, Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300

This information is provided by The Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates, LLC. is a private organization, not affiliated with any governmental agency. The opinions presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Brookside Associates or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. All material presented here is unclassified.

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