Description
Hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the double-shelled hepatitis B virus. It is preventable through vaccination. The detection of anti-HBs is indicative of a prior immunologic exposure to the antigen or vaccine. An individual develops hepatitis B surface antibodies from a successful vaccination or if they have had hepatitis B and recovered from the infection. This test will determine immune status as =10 mIU/mL as per CDC guidelines. The hepatitis B vaccine stimulates the body to make these antibodies to protect against the virus. If an individual has been infected but cleared the virus, the surface antibodies they developed protect against the virus for life, preventing reinfection.
The hepatitis B surface antibody is detectable after clearing the virus. The presence of hepatitis B core antibody can indicate a past or present HBV infection. People vaccinated for hepatitis B will not have the core antibody in their blood. If an individual is positive for both surface and core antibodies, it can indicate that they had a natural HBV infection and recovered. If only surface antibodies are positive, it can indicate that the individual was vaccinated. In both of these cases, immunity is confirmed, meaning that further vaccination is not generally required.
