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Test ID: HEAB
Hepatitis Be Antibody, Serum

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Determining infectivity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers

 

Monitoring infection status of chronically HBV-infected patients

Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

In a patient recovering from acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatitis Be antibody (anti-HBe) appears in the serum after hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) becomes detectable. Anti-HBe may be detectable for several years after the patient's recovery from the acute illness.

                                                

In HBV carriers, positive anti-HBe results usually indicate inactivity of the virus and low infectivity of the patients. Positive anti-HBe results in the presence of detectable HBV DNA in serum indicate active viral replication and progression of liver disease in a carrier.

 

See HBV Infection-Diagnostic Approach and Management Algorithm and Viral Hepatitis Serologic Profile in Special Instructions. Also see The Laboratory Approach to the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Hepatitis B Infection in Publications.

Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Negative

See Viral Hepatitis Serologic Profiles in Special Instructions.

Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Absence of anti-hepatitis Be antibody (anti-HBe) and presence of HBe antigen indicates persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and infectivity.

             

Detectable anti-HBe with disappearance of hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) usually indicates loss of HBV infectivity. Although resolution of chronic HBV infection generally follows appearance of anti-HBe, the HBV carrier state may persist.

Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Appearance of anti-hepatitis Be antibody (anti-HBe) in serum does not completely rule-out chronic hepatitis B carrier state or infectivity.

 

Equivocal anti-HBe results indicate borderline levels of anti-HBe in serum. Retesting in 1 to 2 months is recommended to determine definitive hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status, if clinically indicated.

                                    

Performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics:

-Grossly icteric (total bilirubin level of >20 mg/dL)

-Grossly lipemic (triglyceride level of >3,000 mg/dL)

-Grossly hemolyzed (hemoglobin level of >100 mg/dL)

-Containing particulate matter

 

Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Servoss JC, Friedman LS: Serologic and molecular diagnosis of hepatitis B virus. Clin Liver Dis 2004;8:267-281 

2. Badur S, Akgun A: Diagnosis of hepatitis B infections and monitoring of treatment. J Clin Virol 2001 Jun;21(3):229-237

Special Instructions and Forms Describes specimen collection and preparation information, test algorithms, and other information pertinent to test. Also includes pertinent information and consent forms to be used when requesting a particular test