Key Points for Practice
- HBV can be acute or chronic
- Antigens are produced by the HBV virus
- Antibodies are produced by the body in response by the immune system
- Many people have no symptoms
- HBsAG indicates current infection
- Total anti-HBc indicates current or previous infection
- Anti-HBs indicates immunity, through vaccination or exposure
- Vaccination does not cause a positive anti-HBc
- Chronic HBV requires appropriate specialist assessment
- The term "natural HBV" is used to differentiate between exposure to the actual HBV virus, and the vaccination
- CDC guidance states all HBsAG positive people are considered to be infectious, with people who have elevated HBV DNA and/or HBeAG being the most infectious
