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Test Code ABC Hepatitis B Core Antibody, Total

Useful For

To aid in the diagnosis of hepatitis B and determining the phase of a hepatitis B infection.

Synonyms/Keywords

Anti-HB Core, HB Core AB, Anti-HBc

Specimen Requirements

Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No Serum Serum Separator Tube (SST) Red Top Tube (RTT) 1 mL 0.5 mL 0.3 mL

Collection/Processing Instructions

Separate serum from the blood within 60 minutes of venipuncture and transport in an aliquot tube. Specimen must be free of particulate matter including fibrin. 


Regional/Outreach sites:  Please send samples to Marshfield frozen


High doses of exogenous biotin (also termed Vitamin B7, Vitamin H or Coenzyme R) may interfere with this assay. It is recommended that patients refrain from consuming any multivitamin or supplement containing biotin for at least 72 hours prior to collection of a blood sample.

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum Ambient <8 hours
Refrigerate <48 hours
Frozen at -20 C 6 months
Frozen at -70 C >6 months

Rejection Criteria

Grossly hemolyzed
Grossly icteric
Specimens containing precipitate
Cadaver specimens
Heat-inactivated specimens
Body fluids other than serum

Test Information

Hepatitis B is a viral illness that is transmitted through blood and other body fluids. Both acute and chronic stages occur, with the frequency of progression to chronicity declining with age at time of infection. Chronic hepatitis B often leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease.

Limitations

  • The results determined by different assays from different manufacturers can vary due to differences in assay specificities and cannot be used interchangeably.
  • The performance of the assay has not been established with cord blood, neonatal specimens, infants, children, or adolescent patients, immunocompromised, immunosuppressed, cadaver specimens, heat-inactivated specimens, or body fluids.
  • A reactive Anti-Hepatitis B core Total result does not exclude co-infection by another hepatitis virus.

Interferences

Heterophilic antibodies in human serum can react with the immunoglobulins included in the assay components causing interference with immunoassay.

Interpretations

The presence of hepatitis B core total antibody is consistent with both acute and chronic hepatitis B. The HEPATITIS B CORE ANTIBODY, IgM (test code ABC-M) may be used to resolve these two phases.

 

A result of a single hepatitis B lab study should be interpreted with caution.

Reference Range Information

Performing Location Reference Range
Marshfield Reported as "Reactive" or "Non-reactive"

Marshfield Labs Performing Department

Marshfield Labs Chemistry

Performing Information

Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Marshfield Monday through Friday 1 day Microparticle Chemiluminometric Immunoassay/Siemens Centaur 

CPT Codes

CPT Modifier
(if needed)
Quantity Description Comments
86704        

Outreach CPT Codes

CPT Modifier
(if needed)
Quantity Description Comments
86704        

Ordering Applications

Ordering Application Description
Cerner Heptiatis B Core Antibody, Total