HBsAg antibody ( anti - HBsAg )
Last reviewed 11/2023
- anti-HBsAg indicates clinical recovery and immunity to hepatitis B virus
- anti-HBsAg may also occur (via passive transfer) after transfusion
- this antibody is found in about 80% of patients after clinical cure
- anti-HBsAg may take several weeks or months to appear following the disappearance of HBsAg
- in fulminant hepatitis the anti-HBsAg is produced early and may co-exist with low antigen titre
- in chronic carriers - no antibody is present but antigen titres are high
- the presence of anti-HBsAg without HBsAg detectable signifies:
- recovery from HBV infection
- absence of infectivity
- immunity from future HBV infection
- the presence of anti-HBsAg can be used to show effectivity of immunisation programme