{"id":8815,"date":"2025-03-17T21:14:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T19:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=8815"},"modified":"2026-06-18T14:38:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:38:42","slug":"when-should-you-take-a-hepatitis-b-test-and-what-do-the-results-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/when-should-you-take-a-hepatitis-b-test-and-what-do-the-results-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"Hepatitis B test: when to take it and what the results mean"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"193\" data-end=\"225\"><strong>Why is this test so important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"227\" data-end=\"670\">Hepatitis B is not just an infection, but a disease that can go on for a long time without symptoms, gradually damaging the liver. That is why it is called the \u00absilent virus\u00bb. The most reliable way to detect it is through laboratory testing. According to gastroenterologist Olena Romaniuk:<br data-start=\"504\" data-end=\"507\" \/><strong data-start=\"507\" data-end=\"669\">\u00ab&quot;Most patients find out about hepatitis B by accident - during a routine examination. In the early stages, it is painless, which makes testing even more important.&quot;\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"672\" data-end=\"698\"><strong>When to take the test<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"700\" data-end=\"796\">Even if you don&#039;t have obvious symptoms, your doctor may recommend testing in the following cases:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"798\" data-end=\"1081\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"798\" data-end=\"843\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"800\" data-end=\"843\">pregnancy planning or first trimester<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"844\" data-end=\"893\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"846\" data-end=\"893\">preparation for surgery or invasive procedures<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"894\" data-end=\"949\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"896\" data-end=\"949\">before vaccination or to check its effectiveness<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"950\" data-end=\"1022\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"952\" data-end=\"1022\">if you have chronic liver disease or are undergoing hemodialysis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1023\" data-end=\"1081\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1025\" data-end=\"1081\">during unprotected sexual intercourse or contact with blood<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1083\" data-end=\"1268\">Infectious disease specialist Maria Tkach adds:<br data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1116\" \/><strong data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1267\">\u00ab&quot;We especially insist on testing for people who are planning a family or working in the medical field. This protects not only the patient, but also their loved ones.&quot;\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1270\" data-end=\"1291\"><strong>What are the tests?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1293\" data-end=\"1335\">There are several main markers of hepatitis B:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1337\" data-end=\"1625\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1337\" data-end=\"1386\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1339\" data-end=\"1386\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/analysis\/infectious-disease-panel\/gepatyty\/hepatitis-bv\/gepatyt-v-hbv-hbsag\/\"><strong data-start=\"1339\" data-end=\"1348\">HBsAg<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 shows whether the virus is present in the blood now<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1387\" data-end=\"1468\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"1468\"><strong data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"1401\">Anti-HBs<\/strong> \u2014 indicates immunity (after vaccination or previous illness)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1469\" data-end=\"1534\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1471\" data-end=\"1534\"><strong data-start=\"1471\" data-end=\"1483\">Anti-HBc<\/strong> \u2014 provides information about past or current infection<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1535\" data-end=\"1625\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1537\" data-end=\"1625\"><strong data-start=\"1537\" data-end=\"1548\">HBV DNA<\/strong> \u2014 detects the presence and amount of virus in the body (relevant in treatment)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1627\" data-end=\"1699\">In each case, the doctor prescribes only those tests that are necessary for you.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1627\" data-end=\"1699\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8816\" src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/themes\/woodmart\/images\/lazy.svg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/this-kind-ilness-is-very-serious.jpg\" alt=\"Table with hepatitis B markers and their meanings\" width=\"1200\" height=\"834\" srcset=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/this-kind-ilness-is-very-serious.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/this-kind-ilness-is-very-serious-150x104.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/this-kind-ilness-is-very-serious-600x417.jpg 600w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/this-kind-ilness-is-very-serious-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/this-kind-ilness-is-very-serious-1024x712.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/this-kind-ilness-is-very-serious-768x534.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1701\" data-end=\"1732\"><strong>How to prepare for the analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1734\" data-end=\"1938\">Blood is donated for hepatitis B <strong data-start=\"1759\" data-end=\"1780\">in the morning on an empty stomach<\/strong>, after an 8\u201312 hour break from eating. The day before the test, it is advisable to avoid physical exertion, stress, and fatty foods. If you are taking medication, inform your doctor.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1940\" data-end=\"1967\"><strong>What the results mean<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto contain-inline-size\">\n<table data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"2318\">\n<thead data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"1995\">\n<tr data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"1995\">\n<th data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"1978\">Marker<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"1978\" data-end=\"1995\">Decryption<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"2023\" data-end=\"2318\">\n<tr data-start=\"2023\" data-end=\"2095\">\n<td>HBsAg \u2013 positive<\/td>\n<td>The virus is present in the body, there is an active infection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2096\" data-end=\"2156\">\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/analysis\/infectious-disease-panel\/gepatyty\/hepatitis-bv\/hepatitis-b-anti-hbsag\/\">Anti-HBs<\/a> \u2013 positive<\/td>\n<td>There is immunity, the virus has been neutralized<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2157\" data-end=\"2232\">\n<td>Anti-HBc \u2013 positive<\/td>\n<td>Infection was or is present, depending on other markers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2233\" data-end=\"2318\">\n<td>HBV DNA \u2013 detected<\/td>\n<td>The virus is actively multiplying, control or treatment is needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2320\" data-end=\"2564\">All these indicators are analyzed in combination. According to hepatologist Andriy Koval:<br data-start=\"2400\" data-end=\"2403\" \/><strong data-start=\"2403\" data-end=\"2563\">\u00ab&quot;A positive HBsAg alone is not a reason to panic. We always assess the patient&#039;s general condition, history, and other markers. And only then do we determine a strategy of action.&quot;\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2566\" data-end=\"2584\"><strong>What to do next<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"2586\" data-end=\"2758\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2586\" data-end=\"2640\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2588\" data-end=\"2640\">If all markers are negative, consider vaccination<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2641\" data-end=\"2684\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2643\" data-end=\"2684\">If you have immunity, the virus does not threaten you<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2685\" data-end=\"2758\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2687\" data-end=\"2758\">If a virus is detected, the doctor will suggest a monitoring or therapy plan.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2760\" data-end=\"2918\">Modern medicine has effective means of combating hepatitis B. Treatment is selected individually, and with proper monitoring, patients lead a full life.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2760\" data-end=\"2918\">Hepatitis B test is a simple, affordable and very informative method of testing. Just one blood donation can prevent serious complications in time and preserve your health. Don&#039;t delay - sometimes it is prevention that saves lives.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why this test is so important Hepatitis B is not just an infection, but a disease that can go on for a long time without symptoms.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":627,"featured_media":8817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[234,233],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-imunitet-ta-profilaktyka","category-rozshyfrovka-analiziv-ta-pidgotovka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/627"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8815"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13455,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8815\/revisions\/13455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}