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.