HBsAg Test Positive: Introduction, Test Principle, Procedure, Result Interp

HBsAg Test Positive: Introduction, Test Principle, Procedure, Result Interpretation

HBsAg Test Positive

HBsAg test Positive as shown above picture. As you know, hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world. hepatitis B virus is responsible for this that attacks and injures the liver. According to the Hepatitis B Foundation, every year up to 1 million people die from hepatitis B despite the fact that it is preventable and treatable.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmits through blood and infected bodily fluids. It can be passed to others through direct contact with blood, unprotected sex, use of illegal drugs, unsterilized or contaminated needles, and from an infected woman to her newborn during pregnancy or childbirth.

It is a “silent epidemic” because most people do not have symptoms when they are acute or chronic phase. Therefore, they can unknowingly spread the virus to others and continue the silent spread of it. For people who are chronically infected but don’t have any symptoms, their liver is still being silently damaged which can develop into serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.

The good news is that hepatitis B is preventable and treatable. There is a simple blood test to diagnose a hepatitis B infection as shown above picture. Testing is the only way to know for sure if you are infected. There is a safe vaccine to prevent hepatitis B. There are effective drug therapies that can manage a chronic hepatitis B infection. And a cure is within sight.

Mode of transmission of Hepatitis B Virus

HBV is transmitted through exposure to infective blood, semen, and other body fluids. It can be transmitted from infected mothers to infants at the time of birth or from family member to infant in early childhood. Transmission may also occur through transfusions of HBV-contaminated blood and blood products, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injection drug use. It also poses a risk to healthcare workers who sustain accidental needle stick injuries while caring for infected-HBV patients. Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent this HBV.

Prone to hepatitis B virus

Following groups are at particularly high risk of HBV infection and they are-

Healthcare workers (HCWs)
Men who have sex with other men
Persons who use IV drugs
People with multiple sex partners
Persons with chronic liver disease
People with renal disease
People over the age of 60 with diabetes mellitus
People, who are traveling to countries with a high incidence of HBV infection.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B infection

Symptoms of acute hepatitis B may not be visible for months. However, common symptoms are as follows-

Fatigue
Fever
Joint and muscle pain
Dark urine
Loss of appetite
Abdominal discomfort
Weakness
Yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin

Lab diagnosis of Hepatitis B virus

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test
Hepatitis B core antigen, or HBcAg test
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) test
Both IgM and IgG test
Viral load by PCR test

HBsAg test

Quick/ rapid/ spot test method

Principle of HBsAg Test

This is a qualitative test based on immunochromatographic techniques for the lateral association of antibodies specific for HBsAg.

Requirements for the test

The test kit contains-

Dropper
test cassettes or device
extra we need specimens i.e. serum/plasma

Test Procedure

Open cassette or device pouch.
Label it.
Put a drop of serum or plasma.
Wait for 15 minutes.

Observation

Observe the pink band.
Device A: one band at the control and another at the test region
Device B: Only on the band at the control region

Result and interpretation

Only one band at control region: Test Negative
Two bands one at control region while another at test region: Test Positive
No band at all or band only at test region: Test Invalid
In this condition, repeat the test with another test device
Device A-Positive
Device B: Negative as shown above picture.

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