Test ID: HEAB
Hepatitis Be Antibody, Serum
NY State Approved
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
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
Monitoring serologic response of chronically HBV-infected patients who are receiving antiviral therapy
Testing Algorithm
Delineates situation(s) when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.
See HBV Infection-Diagnostic Approach and Management Algorithm in Special Instructions.
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
Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CIA)
Reporting Name
A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Antibody to Hepatitis Be antigen
Hepatitis Be antibody
Anti-HBe
Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Collection Container/Tube: Serum gel
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: Spin down and immediately remove serum from clot.
Additional Information:
1. Date of draw is required.
2. If ordered with QHBV/82416 Hepatitis B Virus DNA Quantification by bDNA, Serum or HBVQU/88634 Hepatitis B Virus DNA Detection and Quantification by Real-Time PCR, Serum; send separate vials.
Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Lipemia | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Icterus | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Other | Red top |
Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum SST | Frozen (preferred) | |
| Refrigerated | 7 days | |
| Ambient | 24 hours | |
Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
During recovery from acute hepatitis B, the hepatitis Be antigen level declines and becomes undetectable and hepatitis Be antibody (anti-HBe) appears in the serum. Anti-HBe usually remains detectable for several years after recovery from acute infection.
In hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers and in patients with chronic hepatitis B, 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.
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 hepatitis Be (HBe) antigen with appearance of HBe antibody is consistent with loss of hepatitis (HBV) infectivity.
Although resolution of chronic HBV infection generally follows appearance of HBe antibody, 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 hepatitis Be antibody in serum does not completely rule out chronic hepatitis B carrier state or infectivity.
Performance characteristics of this assay have not been established in patients under the age of 2 or in populations of immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients. This assay is not licensed by FDA for testing cord blood samples or screening donors of blood, plasma, human cell, or tissue products.
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
Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
This test is performed using the FDA-approved VITROS Anti-HBe Reagent Pack and the VITROS Anti-HBe Calibrator on the VITROS ECi/ECiQ Immunodiagnostic Systems based on chemiluminescence immunoassay principle. A competitive technique is used which involves preincubation of anti-hepatitis Be (anti-HBe) IgG in the patient sample with a fixed weight of hepatitis Be antigen in the assay reagent, followed by incubation with a conjugate reagent that contains biotinylated mouse monoclonal anti-HBe IgG and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labelled mouse monoclonal anti-HBe IgG. The immune complex is captured by streptavidin on the wells. Unbound materials are removed by washing. The bound HRP conjugate is measured by a luminescent reaction. A reagent containing luminogenic substrates (a luminol derivative and a peracid salt) and an electron transfer agent is added to the wells. The HRP in the bound conjugate catalyzes the oxidation of the luminol derivative, producing light. The electron transfer agent (a substituted acetanilide) increases the level of light produced and prolongs its emission. The light signals are read by the system. The amount of HRP conjugate bound is indicative of the level of anti-HBe IgG present in the sample (Package insert: VITROS Immunodiagnostic Product Anti-HBe Reagent Pack, No. GEM1223, version 1.0; Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Rochester, NY 14626-5101, 7/20/2011)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed
Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Saturday; Varies
Analytic Time
Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time
Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location
The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
86707
LOINC® Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| HEAB | HBe Antibody, S | In Process |


