Hepatitis B Antigens and Antibodies: What Your Test Results Mean

B cell antigens and antibodies

Dear Director Chen,
In my daughter's health check report, the Hepatitis B surface antigen is 0.6 (-) (reference value < 1), and the antibody level is > 1000 (she just received an additional dose of the vaccine).
I would like to ask you, does a Hepatitis B antigen level of 0.1, 0.3, or 0.6 indicate that the antigen is negative? Is there any difference in significance between the values of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.6? Is a level of 0.6 slightly elevated? I am a bit concerned.

I kindly request your response at your convenience.
Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Mrs.
Lin

Lin Tai Tai, 40~49 year old female. Ask Date: 2014/08/01

Dr. Chen Shidian reply Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Dear Mrs.
Lin,
This is just a presentation from the laboratory unit.
As long as the result is less than 1, it is considered negative, so there is no need to worry! Having antibodies (especially with a strong positive result >1000) is even more reassuring.
Changhua Hospital cares about your health.

Best regards,
Chen Shidian

Reply Date: 2014/08/01

More Info

Understanding Hepatitis B test results can be quite complex, especially when interpreting the significance of various antigens and antibodies. In your case, the results indicate that your daughter has a Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level of 0.6, which is considered negative since it is below the standard cutoff of 1.0. Additionally, her Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) level is greater than 1000, which is a strong positive result, especially following a recent vaccination.

Significance of HBsAg and Anti-HBs
1. HBsAg (Hepatitis B Surface Antigen): This antigen is a marker of active Hepatitis B infection. A positive result indicates that the virus is present in the blood, suggesting either an acute or chronic infection. In your daughter's case, since the HBsAg is 0.6, it is negative, indicating that she is not currently infected with the virus.

2. Anti-HBs (Hepatitis B Surface Antibody): This antibody develops after recovery from an infection or after vaccination. A high level of anti-HBs (greater than 1000 in your daughter's case) indicates that she has a strong immune response, which is a positive sign. This means she is likely protected against future infections with Hepatitis B.

Interpretation of HBsAg Levels
Regarding your question about the significance of HBsAg levels of 0.1, 0.3, or 0.6, all these values are below the cutoff of 1.0, which means they are considered negative. The specific numerical values (0.1, 0.3, 0.6) do not indicate different levels of infection but rather confirm that there is no detectable Hepatitis B virus in the blood.
- 0.1, 0.3, and 0.6: All these values indicate a negative HBsAg result. The difference in these values does not imply a varying degree of risk or infection; they simply reflect that the virus is not present.
- Concerns about 0.6: While 0.6 is closer to the cutoff than 0.1 or 0.3, it is still well below the threshold for a positive result. Therefore, there is no cause for concern regarding this value.

Recommendations
Given these results, it is advisable to continue monitoring her Hepatitis B status, especially if she has received a recent vaccination. It is also important to ensure that she completes the vaccination series if she has not done so already, as this will provide her with the best protection against Hepatitis B.

Conclusion
In summary, your daughter's test results indicate that she is not currently infected with Hepatitis B and has developed a strong immune response following vaccination. The HBsAg levels of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.6 are all negative and do not indicate any risk of infection. If you have further concerns or questions, it would be beneficial to discuss them with her healthcare provider for personalized advice and reassurance.

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