Testing for Hepatitis B

FAQ About Hepatitis B Testing

Of all STDs, hepatitis B is one of the most worrisome. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hepatitis B affects about 296 million people worldwide and contributes to about 820,000 deaths each year.

If you suspect that you have this STD, it’s important to order testing for hepatitis B as soon as you can. Hepatitis B isn’t curable, but it usually goes away on its own. If it doesn’t, there’s a chance you could develop liver cancer. This happens in about 25% of chronic hepatitis B cases.

Below, you’ll learn about the hepatitis B panel test, as well as some other diagnostic procedures doctors can use if the results from your panel are inconclusive. You’ll also learn about your treatment options for acute and chronic hepatitis B.

Concerned that you have hepatitis B symptoms? Order a 10-panel STD test from Rapid STD Testing now.

Understanding the Hepatitis B Blood Test Panel

You’ll only need to provide one blood sample for a hepatitis B test, but the full panel includes three parts. Doctors must run the full three-part panel to know whether you’re infected with hepatitis B. If they were only to run one part of the test, they could end up with inaccurate results.

Below, we’ll explain the three-part hepatitis B panel and what the results mean.

  • HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen): This test detects the presence of the hepatitis B virus, called the surface antigen, in your blood. If you receive a negative result, then you do not have hepatitis B. If you get a “reactive” or positive result, you are infected with the virus. You can also spread hepatitis B to others if they come into contact with your blood.
  • HBsAb or anti-HBs (Hepatitis B surface antibody): This is one test for which you want a positive result. If you test positive, you are protected against the hepatitis B virus. You might have this result if you’ve received the hepatitis B vaccine or successfully recovered from a previous hepatitis B infection. If you test positive, you cannot catch the virus or transmit it to others. If you test negative, you’re still at risk for contracting hepatitis B.
  • HBcAb or anti-HBc (Hepatitis B core antibody): If you have a positive result for this test, it means you’re either infected with hepatitis B or were infected at some time in the past. Unlike the surface antibody described above, the core antibody doesn’t offer protection against the virus. By itself, this test doesn’t provide a clear picture of your infection status. Your doctor will need to compare the results to the other two panels to make a diagnosis.

If you have acute hepatitis B, it will usually clear up on its own in two to three weeks. If your symptoms don’t improve by then, make an appointment with a liver specialist called a hepatologist. This specialist may want to order ultrasound testing for hepatitis B to check your liver function and determine whether you need treatment. After that, you’ll possibly need to see your specialist once or twice a year.

Chronic hepatitis B isn’t curable, but you can still live a long and healthy life by taking good care of your liver.

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Diagnostic Procedures Beyond Blood Tests

Doctors can usually provide an accurate diagnosis for hepatitis B by performing the three-panel test described above. However, there may be times when this test is not enough to diagnose the disease properly.

Your doctor may order a liver ultrasound to check the quality of your liver functioning. This is because hepatitis B can damage the liver before causing other noticeable symptoms. Doctors may order an ultrasound if you have a higher risk of developing liver disease or cancer due to infection with hepatitis B. People in this risk group include:

  • Those who use tobacco or alcohol
  • People who inject drugs
  • People who have a history of STDs
  • Non-monogamous people
  • People unvaccinated against hepatitis B as infants whose parents were born in regions with HBsAg prevalence of more than 8%
  • Babies born to hepatitis B-positive mothers
  • People with elevated liver enzymes
  • People on dialysis

The liver ultrasound for hepatitis B is called transient elastography (FibroScan). This test uses pulse-echo ultrasound to measure liver stiffness in kilopascals (kPa). Many healthcare providers prefer this test because it is non-invasive compared to a liver biopsy.

Liver ultrasounds can also show other useful markers of chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis. Some of these include:

  • A decrease in liver size
  • A reversal of blood flow direction in the liver
  • The borders of the liver become lobulated rather than smooth

Because transient elastography is a non-invasive procedure, there are no known risks or side effects. The procedure is safe for pregnant women as well.

A doctor may opt for a liver biopsy in some cases. They might choose this option if the results of your ultrasound are inconclusive. However, a biopsy is somewhat invasive, so most healthcare providers will choose an ultrasound instead when possible.

During a liver biopsy, a provider will insert a thin needle through your skin and into your liver, then remove a small piece of your liver, which they will send to a lab for testing. This type of biopsy is called a percutaneous liver biopsy.

Your doctor may also choose to make a small incision in your abdomen and remove a liver sample that way. This is called the laparoscopic method. Another alternative is the transjugular biopsy, which involves inserting a small sheath into the vein in your neck that drains the liver (the hepatic vein). Your doctor may opt for this alternative if you have a high risk of bleeding.

All types of liver biopsies can determine how well your liver is functioning and whether your treatment is working if you’ve been diagnosed with liver disease. Doctors can also use a biopsy to monitor you after a liver transplant.

Biopsies do not involve making large incisions, so they’re generally safe. However, the procedure does present some risks, including:

  • Abnormal bleeding, which may necessitate a blood transfusion
  • Pain at the biopsy site (generally treated with over-the-counter pain relievers)
  • Infection
  • Accidental injury to another organ
  • For a transjugular biopsy, temporary voice problems, drooping eyelids, or blood pooling in the neck

Treatment Options for Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B

If you receive a positive test for hepatitis B, you may have either an acute (new) or chronic infection. Most people’s bodies can clear acute hepatitis B within a few weeks. However, if the virus remains in the blood for over six months, it has progressed to the chronic infection stage.

The risk of developing chronic hepatitis B is directly related to the age of exposure to the virus. The younger you are when exposed, the greater the chance you have of developing chronic hepatitis B.

This risk is greatest for infants and young children. Infants exposed to the virus (at birth, for instance) have a very high chance of developing a chronic infection. About 50% of children aged one to five will develop the chronic variety of hepatitis B.

Only about 5% to 10% of healthy adults aged 19 and up will develop chronic hepatitis B. That means you have about a 90% chance of recovery.

If you have acute hepatitis B, advanced treatment is typically not needed. Simply focus on staying as healthy and comfortable as you can. Get plenty of rest, and drink ample water to stave off dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea. It’s also wise to avoid alcohol and tobacco.

Your doctor may choose to prescribe immune modulator drugs to help your body get rid of the virus in some cases. You’ll typically take these drugs for six months to one year.

In very rare cases, a life-threatening condition called fulminant hepatitis can develop. This requires immediate medical attention because sudden liver failure can occur.

If your doctor has diagnosed you with chronic hepatitis B, you may need treatment for the rest of your life. Thankfully, with this treatment, you can still live a long and healthy life.

People with chronic hepatitis B have two main treatment options: antiviral medications or interferon injections.

Antiviral drug options include adefovir (Hepsera), tenofovir (Viread), lamivudine (Epivir), and entecavir (Baraclude). Of these, Viread and Baraclude are considered first-line treatments for most patients. These drugs slow down or stop the virus from producing, which can limit liver damage.

Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe interferon injections if you have signs of liver damage. These injections may cause side effects such as headaches and depression.

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Order Convenient Hepatitis B Testing Now

Doctors can typically diagnose hepatitis B with a simple blood test, but you needn’t visit a doctor to get tested if you don’t want to.

If you suspect that you have an STD, it may put your mind at ease to order testing for hepatitis B. Rapid STD Testing offers same-day STD testing that you can order from home. Once you’ve ordered your test, just visit one of the 2,500+ labs near you. You’ll get your results in just one to two days, and nobody will be able to see them but you. It’s a smart choice if you don’t want to visit your regular doctor for testing.

Order your rapid STD test now or call (866) 872-1888 to learn more about our STD tests.

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