Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) test is done to check the presence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) in the blood. Your doctor is likely to recommend this test if you exhibit signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B to check the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen in your blood.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Rapid Card Overview

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) test is done to check the presence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) in the blood. Your doctor is likely to recommend this test if you exhibit signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B to check the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen in your blood.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that ends up causing inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B test results are a potent medium to detect present Hepatitis B infection, previous exposure to HBV, and the infected person’s immunity to the virus.

Hepatitis B infection is spread when the body fluids of an infected person come in contact with a healthy person. More than often, hepatitis B is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, but other body fluids can also play a role in its transmission.

A hepatitis B infection can be of two types – acute and chronic. While an acute hepatitis infection is mostly short-lived, it goes away on its own within a few weeks to six months without any treatment.

About 5 to 10% with acute hepatitis B infection are at risk of getting a chronic hepatitis infection. A chronic hepatitis infection lasts for more than six months and is at a higher risk of developing serious medical conditions like liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer.

Why Get Tested for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Rapid Card?

Your doctor may advise you to get tested for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Test for several reasons, some of which are explained below:

• Screening for HBV – HIV screening is regularly ordered by doctors for a number of reasons and in ample scenarios, for instance, pregnancy work-up, pre-operative tests, and more. Since most people with Hepatitis B often don’t exhibit any symptoms for long, your doctor may order you to get this screening done if he finds you at an increased risk of contracting an HBV infection based on your medical and family history. 

• Diagnosing & Evaluating Existing HBV Infection – If a person has already contracted HBV and is exhibiting a few symptoms, an HBsAg test can identify if the person has acquired an acute infection or is it a chronic one. An HBsAg test can also detect if the person can spread the virus to others. 

• Evaluating Past HBV Infection & Immunity Response – A Hepatitis B surface antigen test is capable to show whether the person has developed an immune response due to the hepatitis vaccination or acquired immunity after having recovered from it in the past. An HBsAg test is also performed to assess a person’s immune response to the vaccination and to single out those at an increased risk of HBV reactivation. 

• Monitoring Current HBV Infections – An HBsAg test is also ordered in cases where the doctor needs to monitor a patient already diagnosed with hepatitis B. The test will show results for monitoring the disease, detect possible complications, and gauge the response to existing treatment to see if there are any changes to be done. 

  
  

When to Get Tested for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Rapid Card?

Doctors recommend screening and detection of HBV using the Hepatitis B test, more so for certain age groups and categories that are at an increased risk of infection. There are certain groups that are at an increased risk and can benefit from hepatitis B screening are listed here:

• Pregnant women
• People born in certain parts of the world as Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, parts of the Middle East, and South America where hepatitis B is prevalent and reported often
• People who aren’t vaccinated for Hepatitis B
• People with an HIV-positive history
• People who take regular injectables & drugs
• People who indulge in unprotected sex with multiple partners

 Additionally, a doctor may order testing for hepatitis B after assessing a patient’s medical and family history, present symptoms, and a physical examination. If any patient develops an HBV symptom without any known or recent exposure to the virus, the doctor may also order a Viral Hepatitis Panel that screens a patient for hepatitis A, B, and C in a single blood sample.

When all other liver tests of a patient are abnormal and the symptoms still persist, the doctor may follow up the case with an HBsAg test. HBsAg testing is also commonly recommended in cases where patients develop and show symptoms of hepatitis B. A few common symptoms of hepatitis B are listed below: 

• A peculiar dark urine colour
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Gray or clay-coloured stools
• Nausea and vomiting followed by loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Pain in the joints
• Skin and eyes with a yellowish tinge

How to Get Tested for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Rapid Card?

Your doctor is likely to prescribe you an HBsAg test in view of your symptoms, physical exam, and medical history. Hepatitis B test is typically performed in a medical setting like a hospital or a pathological lab.  

Testing for HBsAg requires a blood sample to be drawn from the patient’s vein using a small needle by a phlebotomist. After the blood sample is collected, the tube is clearly marked and sent to the lab for further analysis.

Taking a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Rapid Card Test

Preparation Required Before the Test

There is no special preparation required before going for an HBsAg test. However, it is highly recommended that patients should share information about any medication they’re taking regularly. This may include regular medication for pre-existing ailments, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements.

What to Expect During the Test?

Getting your sample collected in a laboratory involves the following steps:

• The phlebotomist locates an appropriate vein either on the arm or hand 

• A tourniquet is tied over the arm to tighten the fist and increase blood flow to the designated area 

• The site is marked and cleaned with an antiseptic wipe 

• The phlebotomist inserts a needle into the vein and collects the blood sample in the attached vial 

  
  

Getting your blood sample collected for Hepatitis B takes less than 5-10 minutes in general. Blood sample collection is sometimes followed by temporary side effects like slight discomfort or a stinging feeling when the needle is inserted. Some patients may also witness temporary throbbing and bruising that often goes away in a few hours to 2-3 days. There are no restrictions on the patient’s activities after the blood sample is drawn.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg), Rapid Card Test Results

You are likely to receive your HBsAg test results report within 1-2 business days of collecting the sample. Since the hepatitis B test is conducted for a variety of reasons, it is important to discuss your test report results with your treating doctor for a further plan of action.