HBsAg Screening Test in Jaipur

HBsAg (Australia antigen) is the first serologic marker to appear in serum after Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Hbsag test is done for diagnosis of acute, recent, chronic cases of hepatitis. Test is positive after 4 weeks of infection but may be detected any time after the first week. Test plays an important role in  management of HBV disease. This test may be negative during a phase of disease known as 'window period', at this time Anti HBc IgM test is positive

HBV, or Hepatitis B Virus infection, is one of the five types of Hepatitis Virus. The other types of Hepatitis Virus infection are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, and Hepatitis E. Hepatitis B Virus infection spreads through blood, seminal fluid, vaginal secretions, sharing needles, getting tattoos, getting piercings, and drug addictions to cocaine, heroine, etc. It takes several months to develop symptoms of HBV.

Once the virus enters the body, the proteins on the surface of the virus (called antigens) make your immune system create antibodies. After several weeks of infection, these surface antigens can get detected in your bloodstream. HBsAg Screening is the test to check whether you have a current or chronic HBV infection.

What are the types of Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. There are in all seven types of Hepatitis. 

• Hepatitis A - occurs due to exposure to HAV in food or water.
• Hepatitis B - occurs due to HBV in body fluids like blood, semen, and vaginal secretion.
• Hepatitis C - occurs due to HCV in body fluids like blood, semen, and vaginal secretion.
• Hepatitis D - occurs due to coming in contact with HDV blood.
• Hepatitis E - occurs due to exposure to HEV in food or water.
• Autoimmune Hepatitis - occurs when the body's immune system turns against its liver cells.
• Neonatal Hepatitis - occurs when the inflammation of the liver occurs in the early infant stage of the baby, that is, 1 to 2 months after delivery.

• Who should do the HBsAg Screening?

  People who have signs and symptoms of Hepatitis - acute or chronic - should do the HBsAg Screening.

  The following symptoms are the markers of Hepatitis infection -

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Sudden nausea
• Sudden Vomiting
• Light-coloured or clay-coloured stools
• Abdominal pain - in the right upper side of the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in the joints
• Jaundice - yellow skin and yellow eyes
• Dark-coloured urine
• Abdominal discomfort
• Unusual tiredness
• Diarrhoea
• Unexplained weight loss

Written by: Dr. Pooja Trehan, M.D Pathology, Dept. of Heamatology