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Test Code HBCTT Hepatitis B Core Total Antibodies, Serum [LAB1242]

Performing Laboratory

UnityPoint Finley Hospital

Test Method

Chemiluminescent competitive immunoassay; Roche cobas Pro

Specimen Requirements

  1. Serum is the specimen of choice. Gel tubes are acceptable.
  2. Lithium heparin plasma and EDTA plasma are also acceptable specimen types. 
  3. Refrigerate specimens if they cannot be assayed immediately.
  4. Hepatitis Bc Total Antibody specimens are stable for 5 days at 2-8°C, and 2 months at -20°C.

Performance

Testing is performed 7 days a week Monday through Sunday.

Routine specimen requests are completed the same day received.

Stat requests are completed within 4 hours of receipt. 

Useful For

During an infection with the hepatitis B virus, antibodies to HBcAg are generally formed, which often persist for life. Anti‑HBc appears shortly after onset of infection with hepatitis B virus and can usually be detected in serum soon after the appearance of HBsAg. Anti‑HBc antibodies persist both in persons who have recovered from a hepatitis B infection and in those who develop HBsAg-carrier status. Accordingly, they are an indicator of existing or past hepatitis B infection.

Reference Values

Nonreactive

 

Reactive results are sent to the Department of Public Health per state reportable guidelines

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