Category

SEROLOGY/ IMMUNOLOGY

Sub Category

INFECTIOUS.

Synonyms/Aliases

HBV SURFACE ANTIGEN, RDT; HBV SURFACE ANTIGEN, RAPID TEST.

Abbreviations

HBsAg.

Type

INDIVIDUAL TEST.

2-4 HRS

2-4 HOURS

Method

IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHY.

Temp

AMBIENT (8 HOURS), REFRIGERATED (7 DAYS), FROZEN (14 DAYS).

Setup

ALL WORKING DAYS.

Components Parameters

N/A

PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS

Test Ordering Instructions

FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.

Patient preparation

N/A

Sample type

SERUM.

Container/ preservative

SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.

Sample volume

2 ML.

Rejection criteria

LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE; HEMOLYZED, LIPEMIC, ICTERIC SAMPLES.

Other Instructions

CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.

Reference intervals

NEGATIVE.

Clinical Utility

HBsAg IS THE FIRST SEROLOGIC MARKER THAT CAN BE DETECTED AFTER INFECTION WITH HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV). IT IS USED TO DIAGNOSE ACUTE OR CHRONIC HBV INFECTION. CHRONIC HBV INFECTION IS DEFINED BY PERSISTENT HBsAg SEROPOSITIVITY FOR ≥6 MONTHS & CAN PROGRESS TO LIVER CIRRHOSIS & HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA.

Test Limitations/ Confounders

FALSE POSITIVES MAY OCCUR IN CASES OF RECENT HBV VACCINATION THEREFORE TESTING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE VACCINATION.