How Will I Know if it's Hepatitis B - Diagnosis & Testing

If you attended public school in the United States, chances are that you've already been vaccinated against the Hepatitis B virus - most school districts will require a child to complete a list of vaccinations at their primary doctor's office prior to enrolling in school, and the Hepatitis B vaccination is on that list.  For everyone else, your primary care doctor will diagnose HBV based on a physical exam, your medical history, and various blood tests.  Your doctor may also ask a wide range of questions, including about your job environment and sexual behaviors, and your alcohol use.  If the doctor thinks you might be infected with the virus, you will need to do blood tests to find out more about your body.  There are a couple of blood tests that will help the doctor diagnose Hepatitis B, and tests that will determine if you have liver damage.


Blood tests used to help diagnose Hepatitis B:

1. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test - A positive test for the HBsAg test means that there is a Hepatitis B infection in your body, and it can easily be susceptible in passing the virus to other people around you.   
2. Hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) test - A positive anti-HBs test means that you are immune to the Hepatitis B virus (through antibodies from a previous, recovered HBV infection or have already been vaccinated).
3. Hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) test - A positive test for the HBc test means that you may have transmittable chronic Hepatitis B and/or currently recovering from a current acute infection.  What the outcome is for the HBc test depends on the results of the two previous tests.

Blood tests used to determine the health of your liver:

1. Bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time tests - These three tests determine how well your liver is (or is not) functioning.
2. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) - These four tests will measure the amount of enzymes produced by your liver, and with these results will determine if your liver is inflamed or damaged.

These tests alone do not accurately provide whether or not you are diagnosed with Hepatitis B. Additional tests and check-ups with your primary care doctor will be needed. Ultimately, if you are not sure whether or not you need any of these tests, the best thing to do is simply make an appointment with your doctor and ask. For a list of primary care doctors who have pledged and committed to spreading the word about ending the Hepatitis B virus, please visit this link. Alternatively, if you do not have a doctor, visit this link for a list of community clinics and resource centers that provide vaccinations and tests for those in need. Most of these services are free and/or low-cost!