Lab tests
Hepatitis panel (A, B and C serology) explainer
A hepatitis panel is a set of blood tests for hepatitis A, B and C whose names differ by only a letter or two: HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc. Some look for part of a virus and others for antibodies, and the results come as words such as reactive or non-reactive. Add your report below to see each abbreviation written out.
Explain your hepatitis panel (A, B and C serology)
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What you get
- Each marker on its own row, grouped under hepatitis A, B or C.
- A label on each line saying whether it is an antigen test, an antibody test or a test for viral genetic material.
- Result words such as reactive, non-reactive, detected and equivocal explained.
- Any interpretive comment the laboratory printed, restated with nothing added.
Abbreviations you may see on a hepatitis panel
- HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen)A protein from the surface of the hepatitis B virus
- Anti-HBs or HBsAb (hepatitis B surface antibody)Antibody to that surface protein, often reported as a number in mIU/mL
- Anti-HBc or HBcAb (hepatitis B core antibody)Antibody to the inner core of the hepatitis B virus, reported as total or as IgM
- Anti-HCV (hepatitis C antibody)Antibody to the hepatitis C virus
- Anti-HAV IgM and anti-HAV total or IgGAntibodies to the hepatitis A virus
- HBV DNA and HCV RNATests that look for the genetic material of the virus itself
- IgM and IgGTwo classes of antibody, which laboratories may test for separately
What this tool cannot tell you
Hepatitis markers are read in combination, and one result can be understood differently depending on the others, on vaccination history and on timing. A screening result is also often followed by a confirmatory test before anyone draws a conclusion. MedicDecode spells out the abbreviations and repeats what your report prints. It does not say whether you have, have had or are protected against hepatitis; ask the clinician who ordered the panel.
Common questions
What is the difference between reactive and positive?
Laboratories use both words for a test that gave a signal, and non-reactive or negative for one that did not. Which pair appears depends on the laboratory and the kind of test. The explanation keeps the word your report uses.
Why are there three different hepatitis B lines?
Each one looks for something different: one for a protein from the virus and two for antibodies to different parts of it. They are ordered together because clinicians read them as a set.
My report says equivocal or borderline. What now?
It means the test signal fell between the laboratory's cut-offs for reactive and non-reactive, so the result could not be called either way. Reports usually suggest a repeat sample, which your clinician can arrange.
Words you may see on this report
Tap a word for its plain-English meaning, an example line and what it does not mean.
- ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
ALT is an enzyme found mainly in the liver; when liver cells are irritated or damaged, more ALT leaks into the blood.
- AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
AST is an enzyme found in the liver, muscles, heart and other tissues; raised levels can signal stress or damage in one of these.
- Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a yellow substance made when old red blood cells break down; the liver processes it so it can leave the body.
- Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product from normal muscle activity that the kidneys filter out, so its blood level helps show how well the kidneys work.
- CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
CRP is a protein made by the liver that rises quickly when there is inflammation or infection in the body.
- Culture and Sensitivity
A culture and sensitivity test grows germs from a sample to identify them, then checks which antibiotics can stop them.
- eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
eGFR is an estimate of how well your kidneys filter waste from your blood, calculated from a creatinine blood test plus details like age.
- Electrolytes
Electrolytes are minerals in the blood, such as sodium, potassium and chloride, that carry an electric charge and help the body work.
- ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
ESR measures how fast red blood cells sink in a tube of blood over an hour; a faster rate can be a general sign of inflammation.
- Fasting Sample
A fasting sample is blood taken after you have had nothing to eat or drink except water for a set number of hours.
- Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron; its blood level gives a good idea of how much iron the body has in reserve.
- HbA1c
HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over roughly the past two to three months by measuring how much sugar is attached to red blood cells.
Medicines connected to this test
Their official labels mention this kind of test. Each is explained in plain English.
- Lamivudine
An antiviral medicine of the nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor type, used here for hepatitis B
- Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
A nucleotide analog medicine. The label calls it an HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor and an HBV reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The FDA class is not listed.