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Information on hepatitis virus testing
About Hepatitis B Virus Test
This is a blood test to determine if a person is infected with the hepatitis B virus. The test detects the HBs antigen, a protein on the surface of the hepatitis B virus.
Result Interpretation
If the HBs antigen is negative,
You are not infected with hepatitis B virus. Keep in mind the date when you were tested. If you have any subjective symptoms, take the test again.
If the HBs antigen is positive,
You are infected with hepatitis B virus. We strongly recommend that one with test positive visit medical institution for additional tests. Consult a specialist at least once. If HBs antigen is positive, further detailed tests will be conducted at a medical institution to determine the current state of infection.
| test name | test result |
|---|---|
| HBs antigen | If positive, you are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). |
| HBs antibody | If positive, you were infected in the past and subsequently cured; it can also be positive if you were vaccinated against HBV. |
| HBc antibody | If positive, you are/were infected with HBV. (HBV vaccination does not result in a positive result.) |
| HBc-IgM antibody | This indicates recent HBV infection. |
| HBe antigen | If positive, it generally indicates a strong proliferative capacity of HBV. |
| HBe antibody | If positive, it generally indicates that the proliferative capacity of HBV has decreased. |
| HBV-DNA | This measures the viral load of HBV in the blood. |
About Hepatitis C Virus Test
To determine if you are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), a test to detect antibodies against the virus is performed (qualitative HCV antibody test). If the test is positive, HCV antibody titer is measured subsequently. If the HCV antibody titer test is used for primary screening, the qualitative HCV antibody test is not performed (can be omitted). Based on the results, if necessary, a test to detect the viral gene of HCV (HCV nucleic acid amplification test, also known as PCR test) is performed to make a comprehensive interpretation.
Result Interpretation
If the HCV antibody is negative,
You are unlikely to be currently infected with hepatitis C virus. (Interpretation reason: 3, 4, and 5 in the figure below)
If the HCV antibody is positive,
You are likely to be currently infected with hepatitis C virus. (Interpretation reason: 1 and 2 in the figure below)
Source: 2012 MHLW grants
"Study on Hepatitis Virus Infection Status, Long-Term Course and Prognosis, and Measures to Introduce Treatment" Principal Investigator: Junko Tanaka (Professor, Hiroshima University)
Report on "New Procedures for Hepatitis C Virus Testing"