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Avatar universal

Am I still a carrier?

I am currently pregnant and had my blood test done on Hep B. I was born and raised in Asia. Below is the thorough test results:

Procedure:                                         Units           Ref Range
Hep B Surface Ag:      Reactive*                               [Negative]  
Hep B Surface Antigen, Confirmation: Confirmed      
Hep B Surface Ab:      Negative                                [Negative]
Hep B Core, IgM:        Negative                                [Negative]
Hep B Core Ab IgG:    Reactive*                               [Negative]
Hep B e Antigen:        Nonreactive
Hep B e Antibody:      Reactive
Hep B DNA QNt (BDNA):    <100 f   intl unit/mL
HBDNAQTPCcop/mL:         <160 f   copies/mL
ALT                         :           13       intl unit/L           [0-41]
AST                        :           18        intl unit/L          [0-37]

I understand that by definition a person with positive Hep B surface antigen is considered to be infected with Hep B (either acute or chronic) and the test shows my Postitive hep B Antigen is confirmed. I don't think I am currently having an acute Hep B because the last time i may have exposed to Hep b that I can think of was through having a teeth cleaning back in my country which was done 1 year ago (if I got acutely infected through this it should've been cleared by now since it's been more than 6 months).

My question is I am still a carrier (healthy carrier) of Hep B? My gastroenterologist told me my DNA virus level is undetectable and my ALT is normal and Hep B e antibody is positive, which are a good thing. The doctor is from India originally so I didn't really completely understand what he meant. He also said I might have had Hep B in the past. I kept asking him if I am still a carrier, he couldn't give me a straight answer.

To my understanding, if I had Hep B in the past, i should have developed positive Hep B Surface Antibody but my test shows hep B surface Ab is negative. However I am tested positive for Hep B Cor , Ab IgG.

Could anyone give me a straight answer if I am still a carrier and give me a thorough explanation of the test? Thank you so much.
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Avatar universal
"Anti-HBc (antibody to hepatitis B core) - This test is used to identify a past or present HBV infection. It is produced during and after acute HBV infection. The core antigen is part of the hepatitis B virus and the antibody to the core antigen is usually present in chronic carriers. However, if it is present with a "positive" anti-HBs (protective antibodies), then it is associated with recovery from an infection and this person is not a carrier. The interpretation of this test depends on the first two test results." Meaning this test depends on the results of the Hep B. Surface Antigen and the
Hep. B Surface Antibody tests.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HbcAb : " (anti-HBc) is an antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen. The core antigen is found on virus particles but disappears early in the course of infection. This antibody is produced during and after an acute HBV infection and is usually found in chronic HBV carriers as well as those who have cleared the virus, and usually persists for life. Anti-HBc testing is either specific for the IgM antibody, anti-HBc, IgM, which indicates acute infection, or measures total antibody, anti-HBC, which indicates past infection, either acute or chronic."

hope that helps.
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Avatar universal
I don't see the test result of IgM anti-Hbc anywhere in my lab tests. Was this because the doctor didn't order the test so it is not there or simply I don't have it? Could you give me the definition of Igm anti-Hbc as opposed to IgG anti-Hbc ? Is IgG anti-Hbc the same as HbcAb?
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Avatar universal
Ok I think that the stages of HBV are:
1. You get infected with HBsAG and this is first thing to show in blood along with HBV DNA.
2, Then  IgM anti-Hbc is the next thing to show. This is the antibody that if docs find, allows them to tell if you have been infected recently or not as in like the last 6-12 weeks.
3. IgG anti-Hbc is also present in both chronic and acute people but what happens in a chronic is that the IgM antibody usually leaves the body. This means the chronic person id left only with HBsAg and IgG anti-hbc.

If you are chronic then you will not have any IgM anti-Hbc. It will have gone by now.
Brit

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you thank you for your encouragement. I have been so depressed finding out that I am infected with Hep B. My husband or I will for sure watch the shots be given to my baby in the delivery room. That is the most important thing to us.

I just read the blood test results for the acute Hep B cases provided in the forum:

HBsAg: positive
HBcAb:  positive
IgM anti-HBc: positive
HBsAb: negative

I don't know what IgM anti-HBc is or what it stands for. What is the difference between this and HBcAb? Do you know?



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Avatar universal
yeah I think the wise thing is to actually witness the baby getting the jab. Either you or your partner should watch it be given just for total peace of mind. I don't really care bout monitoring rest of my life...if it keeps me healthy I'll do it. Hey before you know it you are gonna have a beautiful baby boy/girl in your arms and 6 months monitoring will be no probs for you.
Brit
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Avatar universal
Really appreciate your opinion and quick response. I forgot to mention I had 3 shots of Hep B vaccine in the past but it looks like I got infected with Hep B virus before having the shots so the shots were actually useless (negative Hep B surface Antibody). I have been grilling my OBGYN to make sure my baby will have 1st shot of Hep B vaccine and a shot of immune Globulin right at birth before once the 1st 12 hours of life is past, there will be no second chance to protect him/her.  Hopefully someone like Bberry or Heptitis Researcher will look at my question and give me a thorough explanation. You know what, I hate the brutal fact that I will need to go to a doctor every 6 months to have my condition monitored for the rest of my life. I 've been wanting to have my own business and thinking about buying a private health insurance, but since I have chronic Hep B, I am considered having a preexisting condition which will prevent me from having a private health insurance. This also means I have to work for somebody to get a group health insurance, which really shatters my plan.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI
my understanding of HBV is that if you are positive for HbsAg and IgG core antibody then you are chronic. However other details are then used to determine what sort of chronic. I may be wrong and you might want to check with someone like bberry who I thik may be about just now but your details to me look like you may be healthy and inactive chronic which is the type you want to be. This means that you still have HBV and can still pass it on but that the virus is not copying itself madly and therfore you are likely to be in better position if you can maintain this state. Montitoring of your condition will allow you to keep an eye on this.

If you are pregnant you will want to make sure that your baby is vaccinated within 12 hours of birth and with follow ups thereafter. This prevents the baby from getting the virus.
Brit
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