Q:
What Does Hepatitis B Core Antibody Being Positive Mean?
A:
Hepatitis B Core Antibody (anti-HBc) is one of the blood tests available to diagnose hepatitis B. It is produced by the body in response to a part of the hepatitis B virus.
The meaning of this test often relies on the results of two other tests: Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (anti-HBs).
A positive test has two possible meanings:
- A person is infected with hepatitis B virus, or
- A person was infected in the past but the infection has been cleared.
Keywords: Hepatitis B Core Antibody; anti-HBc; Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg); Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (anti-HBs)
