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HelpTest Code HAA Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Useful For
To aid in the diagnosis of hepatitis B and determining the phase of a hepatitis B infection.
Synonyms/Keywords
Hepatitis, Australian Antigen, HBsAg, HAA
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 | 0.5 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.
- It is recognized that the current methods for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen may not detect all potentially infected individuals. A nonreactive test result does not exclude the possibility of exposure to or infection with hepatitis B virus. A nonreactive test result in individuals with prior exposure to hepatitis B may be due to antigen levels below the detection limit of this assay or lack of antigen reactivity to the antibodies in this assay.
- Assay performance characteristics have not been established in populations of immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients.
Interferences
Heterophilic antibodies in human serum can react with the immunoglobulins included in the assay components causing interference with immunoassay.
High doses of exogenous biotin (also termed Vitamin B7, Vitamin H or Coenzyme R) may interfere with this assay.
Interpretations
The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen indicates ongoing acute or chronic hepatitis B infection.
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 | Sandwich Immunoassay using Direct Chemiluminometric Technology/Siemens Centaur |
CPT Codes
| CPT | Modifier (if needed) |
Quantity | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87340 |
Outreach CPT Codes
| CPT | Modifier (if needed) |
Quantity | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87340 |
Ordering Applications
| Ordering Application | Description |
|---|---|
| Cerner | Hepatitis B Surface Antigen |